Rainbow Stamp News

2011-12-29T18:53:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year !!

Shimla January 2012 Vol. V Issue # 49

Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin Edited by Jeevan Jyoti for free circulation among philatelists

Readers are requested to send reports of philatelic activities in their area for publication. Short write ups by the readers about their journals, societies, publications and philatelic requirements can be sent for inclusion in this bulletin to j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com and by post to –

Ms. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Distt. Kullu. PIN 175126. (H.P.) India

Note- This bulletin is only for circulation among a limited group of philatelists without any commercial purpose. The bulletin will be sent to the readers only on request. Those who wish to receive it regularly please reply giving the name of your city / country with the subject SUBSCRIBE RAINBOW

Dear Reader

This is the first issue of the year 2012. I wish my Readers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. The year 2012 is the Chinese Year of Dragon . The powerful dragon is the most vibrant of all 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and when the Year of the Dragon begins on 23 January 2012, it will bring with it health, wealth, prosperity and success.

A number of stamp exhibitions were held in different parts of the country in November and December and it will be continued in January 2012 too. It will be a record by India Post to hold such a big number of exhibitions in a single year.

Stamps of India and South India Philatelists’ Association also organized national exhibitions recently . The organizers must be congratulated for their great efforts to organize the show successfully. People have mixed reactions about exhibitions organized by private philatelic societies.

One must understand that holding an exhibition at National level is not an easy task as it requires a huge expenditures, lots of quality arrangements to be made and a big responsibility to take such as procurement of exhibit frames, security arrangements and of course many working hands.. It needs co-operation of whole philatelic community. Such shows need sponsorship as finance is the biggest constraint in organizing a philatelic show without support from Deptt. of Posts. So those who wish to support the show, must come forward and sponsor awards trophies, covers etc. so that the exhibition could become more colorful.

On the contrary the societies should give big publicity of their shows and keep in touch with the whole philatelic community with their regular updates. In all the past exhibitions the organizers of Stampmania 2009 maintained a constant touch with the philatelists by giving updates on their site as well as through their bulletins. This made philatelists associated with the show till the end of the exhibition. This is the reason that a large number of philatelists attended this show from different parts of the country and many awards in this exhibition were sponsored by individuals and societies. The credit goes to Baroda Philatelic Society which managed the exhibition very successfully with the support of its members. The only drawback in the exhibition was the shortage of frames at last moment for which the organizers were helpless as some of the frames got broken during transportation and those could not be repaired in a short time. At the conclusion we find that publicity and strong association of philatelists with the organizers is very necessary for a successful show !! The participants must feel that they are the part of the show. This association between organizer and philatelists motivate philatelic community to come forward and work as a team for the show . Philatelic societies are the organizations which have kept the hobby of “stamp collecting” alive today…They need more volunteers and strong support of the whole philatelic community in every respect during the show…to manage the whole event successfully.

Let’s all come forward and make philatelic events a great success by our voluntary support in every respect to the organizing philatelic society !! All philatelic clubs, organizations and societies deserve great appreciation as they work for the promotion of philately only and not for any other interest.

This is all for this month …Next issue of Rainbow Stamp News will be 50^th Golden issue . Please do write if you wish to share your views/ articles/ News or comments on the journey of last 49 issues of Rainbow for this very special issue !!

Have a Great Time and Wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year !!

Happy Collecting !!

….. Jeevan Jyoti

Contents

Recent Indian Issues

In The News

Interview

Beginners’ Section

Specialized Section

Readers’ Right

New Issues from Other Countries

Philatelic Library

Philatelic Clubs and Societies

Blogs & Websites on Philately

The Lighter Side

Promotional Section

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

Editor’s Mail Box

Recent Indian Issues

11 December : Kavi Pradeep – Rs 5

19 December : Golden Jubilee of Goa Liberation – Rs 5

19 December : President's Fleet Review – 4 stamps Rs 5 each

20 December : Archaeological Survey of India – Rs 5 & Rs 25 + MS

23 December : King George Medical College, Lucknow –Rs 5

26 December : Srinivasa Ramanujan – Rs 5

27 Dec : Madan Mohan Malviya – Rs 5

Special Cover – Postmark

Dec 11 -12 : Gorakhpur – G – Phila - Five special Covers View all covers

Dec 16 :Lucknow : UPHILEX 2011 : Kapilvastu, First 30 years of Stay Place of Gautam Buddha

Dec 17 : UPHILEX 2011 Lucknow CPMG Building , Lucknow

Dec 18 : Lucknow UPHILEX – 2011 , Palash Flower

Dec 23 : Gujpex 2011, Vadodara : Captain Vijay Hazare (Cricket)

:GSFC, Vadodara : 375 years old Banyan Tree

: National Institute of Design : Golden Jubilee

Dec 24 : Gujpex 2011, Vadodara : Pride of the Nation : The Asiatic Lion WWF

: Convent of Jesus and Mary Gils’ High School, Vadodara

: Archaeological Survey of India’s 150th anniversary

Dec 25 : Gujpex 2011, Vadodara : Birth Centenary of Thought Transformation, Shantikunj, Haridwar

View all covers of GUJPEX 2011

View all special Covers issued in 2011

In The News

Gandhi Set Sold in Gibbons Auction for 45,000 Rs

19 48 Gandhi set sold out in 460 GB Pound approx. 45,000 Indian Rupees at Stanley Gibbons Auction in London.

An un-mounted mint set of Mahatma Gandhi issue of 1948 with lower margins was Lot # 647 estimated at £170-190 at the Stanley Gibbons public auction sale # 5864 held at London. It was sold to a bidder in the auction room for a whopping £460 + 15% Buyers Premium + VAT on December 8, 2011. That is equivalent to about Rs 45,000!The Stanley Gibbons Catalog 2012 that was released in September 2011, priced the un-mounted mint set, without margins, for £250 that itself was a big increase from last year’s price of £140.

World’s Christmas card on display in London

Today greetings cards are an essential part of our Christmas celebrations but the custom of exchanging cards did not start until 1843, another wonderful Christmas tradition we have to thank the Victorians for.

The first Christmas card was sent by Henry Cole, a Civil Servant with a keen interest in art and design. Cole commissioned 1,000 Christmas cards and used those he required before selling the rest for 6d each. This price made the cards a luxury item and something that was unavailable to the working classes.

The card was designed by John C Horsley and was printed lithographically and then hand-coloured. Of the 1,000 printed very few are known to remain in existence.

One of Cole’s original 1843-produced cards, held in the collection of the British Postal Museum and Archive, was on display on 08 December in The Post Office at Blists Hill Victorian Town .

Europa 2012 Theme – Visit….

Belgium : Date of Issue: 13th February 2012

Europa stamps have always very special theme. Europa 2011 theme was Forests and next year’s theme is going to be related with Tourism and has been declared as Visit…

Norden 2012 theme

This year’s common theme of Norden Contyrie is "Norden by the Sea - part II "Life at the coast

Aland : Date of Issue: 21th March 2012

Changing style of Santa Claus depicted in stamps, postcards

Just as the history and concept of Santa Claus has evolved throughout the years, so has the idea of what he looks like and his style of dress.

John Wright of Ocean Springs, USA a longtime collector of gems and postage stamps, has developed a collection of antique postcards that were created and distributed in the United States since the late 1800s.

As he acquired Christmas stamps, Wright began to take notice of the early Christmas penny postcards and how Santa's clothes were of different designs and colors. The evolution fascinated him and he limits his collection to those cards showing Santa in costume.

"Santa did not always wear the red costume with white trim that is popular today," Wright said. "Earlier costumes included purple and white, and red and black. Knickerbockers on Santa were popular in the 1920s and the red and white outfit caught on in the late 1930s and 1940s."

His research found the first Christmas card originated in England more than 150 years ago. Holiday cards designed by Kate Greenaway, the Victorian children's writer and illustrator, and Frances Brundage and Ellen H. Clapsaddle, were favorites in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

"America imported its greeting cards from England until 1875, when Louis Prang, a German immigrant to the U.S., opened a lithographic shop and published the first line of U.S. Christmas cards," Wright said.

Jacob von Uexkull the founder of Right Livelihood speaks….

How a rejection by the Nobel Committee spurred Jakob von Uexkull to create the Right Livelihood Award celebrating the solutions helping to ensure a healthy planet and people . Jacob von Uexkull was once a philatelist and stamp dealer of rare stamps.

On the 5th of December this year, guests filed into the grand old Swedish Parliament for the 32nd Right Livelihood Award (RLA) ceremony. Jakob von Uexkull, the Award's founder, gave the opening speech and presented the awards to the four Laureates: all four are from different continents and their work spans the gamut of what can be described as practical activism - promoting human rights in Chad, solar energy in China to natural childbirth and sustainable farming. Whereas the ceremony for the Nobel Prizes, another Swedish award taking place just days later, had scores of publicity, the RLA ceremony was newspaper feature material rather than headline news.

‘I found I could not survive as a journalist, so I turned by hobby into my profession,' he says. He became a dealer in rare stamps, a philatelist, which led him to travel and work in big international conferences, at around the time when the global agenda began to include the search for common principles to help preserve the environment. The biggest was of course the Stockholm Conference - the world's first sustainability conference - in 1972.

Forthcoming International Stamp Exhibitions..

IPHLA 2012

Specialized International Exhibition for Philatelic Literature

IPHLA 2012 : A specialised exhibition for Philatelic Literature is going to be held from 2 to 4 Nov.2012 in the town hall of Mainz (Germany). This exhibition will be held under the patronage of FEPA & AIJP but some non European countries are also invited by them and India is also one of them.

Any author, journalist or publisher can apply for participation at IPHLA 2012 Mainz with one or more exhibits (print, static-digital like CD/DVD or a website) on condition he/she is a member of the BDPh or an association affiliated with FIP or FEPA. The application must arrive on time on the entry form provided for this purpose ( Exhibit Entry Forms ).

Applications for ‘IPHLA 2012’ can be submitted until February 1, 2012.

The basis of the binding application is the different regulations currently provided by the BDPh. Any applicant is urgently advised to take note of these regulations, especially of the special regulations for IPHLA 2012 Mainz , which he agrees to by signing his application.NO FEDERATION COMMISSIONER WILL BE NOMINATED. Please go through website www.iphla.de

For any information please contact to Mr. Wolfgang Massen, Email: w.maassen@alip.org

THAILAND 2013

THAILAND 2013, International Philatelic exhibition will be held in Thailand from 2 to 14 August 2013 in Bangkok, under the patronage of FIP. The World Philatelic Exhibition will take place from 2 - 14 August 2013 at the Royal Paragon Hall 1-3, 5th floor, Siam Paragon, Bangkok. The event will feature not only some unique postage stamp collections, but also displays of other rare and valuable collectibles from around the world. A stamp contest and competition of OTOP products will also be held as part of the event, with an international panel of judges from member countries and representatives of countries submitting collections for display.

PCI has nominated Mr. R D Binani as Commissioner for India, his address :33-B Rowland Road, Kolkata 700 020 E mail : binanipm@gmail.com Mob:9830073058

INDONESIA 2012 WORLD STAMP CHAMPIONSHIP

INDONESIA 2012: International Philatelic exhibition will be held under the patronage of FIP from 18 to 24 June 2012 at Jakarta Convention Center. The exhibition will be known as INDONESIA 2012 WORLD STAMP CHAMPIONSHIP. Mr. S. Sahoo, is National Commissioner for India. His address is :- D-3, BJB Nagar, Bhubanshwar 751 014 Email: sahadevas@yahoo.com

"Glimpses of Indian Autographs" by Praful Thakkar released

On the inaugural day of GUJPEX 2011, on 23rd December , a book written by noted philatelist of Ahmedabad, Mr Praful Thakkar, "Glimpses of Indian Autographs" was released by H E the Governor of Gujarat Dr Kamla Beniwal.

This is a book that gives glimpses of the autographs of eminent Indian personalities of various fields. The book contains around 600 autographs in 8 major groups which are further divided in 42 different categories. In each category about 13 autographs, along with the photographs of the celebrities, are presented. The effort in the book is made to project glimpses of different themes under which autograph collection can be made.

The book gives a special section on ‘Association of Philately with the Autographs’. A special chapter is added in the book which depicts the Autographs in the design of Indian Postal Stamps. Another chapter depicts original autographs, on the First Day Covers, of personalities, related or associated with celebrities whose stamps are issued. Read more details

Praful Thakkar, the renowned philatelist of Gujarat is Limca Book Record Holder in 2009 for Autographs & Canteen Tokens and is a collector of autographs, stamps, First Day Covers (FDCs), coins, medals, tokens, badges , badge plates etc. and many more collectibles of India since last more than 45 years. He has written several books on these subjects of Hobbies.Mr Praful Thakkar may be contacted at email : pkthakkar@yahoo.com

ODISHA STAMP MELA – 2012

A gala Stamp and Stationery Mela is going to be organized at Bhubaneswar, Odisha for the 1^st time by Eastern India Philatelists’ Association, Bhubaneshwar.

Date : 7- 8^th January 2012.

Venue : Hotel Keshari, Master Canteen Square, (Near Bhubaneswar Railway Station).

Co-ordinator : Mr. Shanti Swarup Rath, e-mail – sswaruprath@gmail.com Cell: 09437034621 Dr. Bibhudatta Mishra, e-mail – bhanubibhu@gmail.com Cell: 09437282638

Interested Dealers are requested to contact the coordinators either by Phone or e-mail .

Associates:

Utkal Philatelists and Numismatic Association, Cuttack

Orissa Philatelic Association, Cuttack

Department of Post, Orissa Circle, Government of India

School Partner: Mother’s Public School, Near Unit-1 Market, Bhubaneswar

Read details.. Programme

INDIA POST 2012 CALENDAR – SCULPTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA

In an innovative gesture the Department of Posts had brought out India Post year 2010 calendar on the set of its highly popular 'Dasavatar' stamps based on Jayadev's 12th century epic 'Geetagovinda'. The Calendar was widely appreciated and carried favorable media coverage. Enthused with the response, Department of Posts next year followed with the Calendar on the theme of ‘Buddha’.

Taking this initiative forward Department of Posts has now released India Post 2012 Calendar based on the theme of sculptural heritage of India.

Unicorn and Bull seals alongwith Priest-King figure, Mohenjodaro and Harappa

The history of Indian sculpture dates back to the Indus Valley civilization. Tiny tera-cotta seals and bust of the Priest - King in limestone discovered from the Valley show a high level sophistication and artistry. With changing times, the style and forms of Indian sculpture evolved and acquired new dimensions. Entwined with the plurality of religion, culture and social mores of society, Indian sculpture was deeply influenced with its art, dance, drama and literature. This synthesis produced a huge body of sculptural work which was eclectic and inspirational and was an important and integral part of the life of the common man.

India has produced some of the most intricate and unrivalled sculptures in the world. India Post has celebrated the sculptural heritage of India by issue of a number of postage stamps from time to time. India Post 2012 Calendar is inspired by these postage stamps and includes images drawn from the vast trove of Indian sculptural heritage.

India Post 2012 Calendar is available at various Philatelic Bureaux in the country at the price of Rs. 200 each.

- Research and design: Sankha Samanta

View : Brief description of the panels of the Calendar

A Blogger writes on his Blog…. A note of Thanks

12/16/2011

By Ketankumar Patel

Hello Gandhi Collectors,
This is our 200th blog post on Gandhi Philately Study Circle.!! Thanks to all our blog readers and special thanks to Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti of RAINBOW STAMP CLUB for referring our blog to all her blog readers by adding us in "favorite sites and blog". This is a great honored for us to be on her famous philatelic blog.

Today I am happy to announce that 1000 readers (and growing) were referred from her blog rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com. which is 3rd most referring sites to our blog after google.in and google.com. But I think it is #1 site as we are on her favorite blog since last 8-9 months only, while google is referring since starting of this blog.!! Read the Post…

Many Thanks to the bloggers of http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/ - Editor

Exhibitions in India

THRISSUR DISTRICT PHILATELIC EXHIBITION - THRISSURPEX-2012

January 16, 17 (Monday & Tuesday) Pandi Samooha Matom Hall, Thrissur
Organiser : Thrissur & Irinjalakuda Postal Divisions

P R O S P E C T U S & ENNTRY FORM AVAILABLE AT : www.PhilaIndia.info

Last date : 13 January 2012
For details contact : Mahesh Reddiar email : philaindia@yahoo.co.in

UPHILEX 2011

A state level exhibition was held in Lucknow from 16 to 18 December 2011 at Lalit Kala Academy Regional Centre, Aliganj Lucknow.

View Complete Award List of UPHILEX 2011

Glimpses of UPHILEX 2011

RAJPEX 2012

Rajpex 2012 State Level Stamp Exhibition is proposed to be held from 4 Jan to 7 Jan 2012 at Jaipur. For more details contact Rajesh Paharia General Secretary, Philatelic Society of Rajasthan
Jaipur. email : shreeshell@hotmail.com

GUJPEX 2011

Gujrat Postal Circle organized a state level exhibition GUJPEX – 2011 at Akota Atithi Gruh, ( opposite Akota Stadium, Akota Road ,Vadodara from 23 – 25 December 2011 .

During the exhibition a set of 22 special used picture postcards to commemorate the historic Dandi March and 7 special covers were issued: View Covers

Mahapex 2012

Pune will host the four-day 11th state-level philatelic exhibition, Mahapex 2012, at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch from 13 January 2012. After 25 years, Pune will be hosting such an exhibition for Maharashtra and Goa.

Auction

ITS Postal Auction No.55 – Last Date: 14.01.2012

emails:indianthematicsociety@gmail.com surajjaitly@hotmail.com

Check detailed list of new 145 Lots offered from India and overseas in ITS Postal
Auction No.55 at http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/apps/documents/ OR

http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/2011/12/s-postal-auction-no55-last-date-1412012.html

China 2011 Asian Stamp Exhibition

- Report from Pragya Kothari

FIAP exhibition at China was one of the most awaited event of the year, one because it was the last exhibition of the year and secondly China as a philatelic market has been evolving very rapidly over the years. And my experience of it was quite similar.

L to R Prof VK Gupta, Bartoc, Pradip Jain, Yogesh Kumar

China as a nation has the capacity to outshine the world when it comes to staging event in a grand way like Beijing Olympics, Shanghai expo and Stamp exhibition at Wuxi was no different.

Wuxi.......does the name ring a bell.....I am sure many Indians are not familiar with the town or heard its name before. I was puzzled myself about whereabouts of the city before I applied for the booth.

Transit form Shanghai airport to the exhibition hall in Wuxi and clearance from the customs took almost the entire day. Even though the entire process was not smooth but I was amazed to see the warmth in the hospitality of the Chinese. College and post graduate students who were versatile in both mandarin and English assisted us quite efficiently.

I was amazed to see the exhibition hall, it was massive and well lit. The interiors of the hall was better than the exterior. China Post and China National Philatelic had installed most beautiful stands highlighting the Chinese culture and postal heritage. It mesmerized me how much Chinese lay importance to impress the foreigners.

The opening ceremony was very well organized and foreign booth holders and other dignitaries were given free bus service between official hotel and exhibition centre.

The exhibition hall had two parts one side was for the exhibitors and the other for domestic and foreign booth holders and postal departments. It was conveniently and intelligently done by separating the exhibitor side from the noise and crowd of the booths.

The exhibition showcased some of the best collection from all streams of Philately - thematics, aero-philately, postal history, traditional etc. These provided for an excellent source of knowledge and experience for the visitors. The exhibition hall also had many wide screens which showed videos to the local visitors explaining them about philately and few rare collections which were displayed in court of honour.

The booth holders side was no less in excitement, with the major bulk of the crowd coming in to treat themselves with beautiful stamps and other philatelic souvenirs. Over all, I was amazed to see the keen interest that Chinese had for the hobby of philately and how fast the hobby is catching up with the rest of the country. Unlike India, where hobby is in dire straits, it is quite likely that China is going to emerge as the new Philatelic powerhouse in the coming decades replacing Europe.

A special mention to Asian Thematic Philately Society whose founding ceremony I was honoured to attend, showcases the love of Chinese for thematic philately and the level of knowledge. Its founding ceremony was organized in a community hall in the city of Wuxi where we witnessed some local collections put up for display. Eminent thematic philatelist from other Asian countries like Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Mongolia, Malaysia, China etc. convened the event. I was honoured to speak in the event as a representative from India on my collection. For Chinese thematic philately, with new and young philatelists coming with new ideas and concept - only sky is the limit. There is a well organized national philatelic association which helps young philatelists enhance and develop their collection by conducting regular seminars, meetings and exhibitions. I wonder with amazement about the quality of Chinese collections which we are going to witness in the coming years.

Finally, I was immensely glad to come over to China and participate in the exhibition,which was a great experience and learning for me. I also wish to pay my gratitude to the the China Post, Chinese customs and above all to Chinese people for their generosity and hospitality.

A specialized website on Indian Postal History

Mr Rajesh Pamnani of Hydrabad has created a new website on Indian Postal History. It is a very informative website for the collectors of Postal History. It has different sections on Indian Postal History, Indian Postal Markings, Postage Stamps, India (Used Abroad) and gallery of Indian Registration Labels, Bazar Card of India, Speed Post and other items. A separate section has been given for research articles. It is a complete website for collectors of Indian Postal History. It can be viewed at : http://pamnani.info/rp_index.html

Interview

In this issue meet with Col Jayanta Dutta and Dr Anjali Dutta, the philatelist couple from Pune. Both of them have won a number of awards in National and International Stamp Exhibitions. Fortunately I had a chance to meet both of them at INDIPEX 2011, New Delhi. Dr Anjali explained me her collection and it was a memorable moment with her and Col Dutta. Dr Anjali, the ever-smiling lady was with me in Philatelic workshop at INDIPEX 2011, then I could not recognize her but we met at the exhibition hall when someone introduced me to her and Col Dutta... they told me that they read my blog regularly and it was a pleasant moment …. Both of them are devoted philatelists and take active part in philatelic activities. Dr Anjali was awarded Large Silver for Fiscals of Gwalior at INDIPEX 2011. Though her exhibit had already won 3 International Vermeils earlier. Col Dutta was awarded Silver Bronze for his book, “Rare Stamps of the World “ at INDIPEX 2011 It is a great pleasure to publish the first ever interview of the philatelist couple in Rainbow Stamp News.

The Dutta family has often been referred to as unique in that all the family members including their two daughters are philatelists in their own right. The four of them co-authored the book The Rare Stamps of the World which has won many medals in Asian and world level philatelic exhibitions.

Col J Dutta began collecting stamps as a schoolboy, but unlike many others he persisted with his hobby and had the good fortune to exhibit his collection, and meet with contemporary eminent philatelists on the jury panel, while still in school. His love for stamps and all things related to post, like first-day covers and postal stationery, stayed with him while studying in the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and throughout his Army career. He contributes to and edits a number of philatelic journals and is the President of Deccan Philatelic Society in Pune and Vice President of The Army Philatelic Society.

He has organized a number of philatelic workshops and stamp designing competitions for school children. The first state level philatelic exhibition in Nagaland, that was inaugurated by the then Governor of Nagaland, Sri Shyamal Datta, was organized by him as Chairman of the Organising Committee as a part of the Army Day celebrations of 2006. Presently he is the philatelic advisor to the Organising Committee of MAHAPEX 2012 the Maharashtra and Goa state philatelic exhibition to be held in Pune in January 2012.

The young army doctors and philatelists :Dr Anjali Dutta and Col Jyanta Dutta in Calcutta in 1980

Dr Anjali Dutta first became interested in philately while helping her husband with his collection. Also a graduate from Armed Forces Medical College, she left army service after completing her SSC and while working at various army Health Centres and the Ex- Servicemen Cell in MH Agra, she still found time to help her husband with his collection. Her own knowledge of the subject increased over time and she started her own collection of the stamps of Great Britain right from the Penny Black. She is the Immediate Past President of Deccan Philatelic Society in Pune and General Secretary of The Army Philatelic Society.

To stop some rare fiscal material, related to revenue stamps and documents, from leaving the country via a foreign buyer she bought up the material, made an in depth study of it, and published her findings in a philatelic journal. Later she made up exhibits in fiscals of Gwalior and Jamkhandi that have won many awards including Vermeil in international exhibitions in India, Nepal and Korea and a Large Vermeil at Inpex-Empirepex-2001 National Phil Exhibition with the Adolph Koeppel Award for Revenues, the highest award for fiscals in India, for her exhibit - Fiscals of Gwalior. Presently she is a philatelic advisor to the Organising Committee of MAHAPEX 2012 the Maharashtra and Goa state philatelic exhibition to be held in Pune in January 2012.

Col Jayanta Dutta and Dr Anjali Dutta may be contacted at email : doctorjayanta2009@gmail.com

Interview with Col Jayanta Dutta and Dr Anjali Dutta

Col Jayanta Dutta

Q1 You have spent a long time in this hobby. How were you introduced to this hobby?? - Through friends or someone in your family?

I was introduced to philately by my mother when she presented me an album on my birthday in 1963. From then the romance has just got stronger.

Q2 You have specialized in fiscal philately. Why did you choose to take up fiscals only?? Why not some other branch of philately?

Not really. I was always a collector of traditional stamps and postal stationery. I do have a fine collection of Jaipur State stamps and postal stationery and early Nepal. I won my first vermeil in 1966 for classic Argentina followed by in 1968 for early Nepal. I do have a fine collection of British India postal stationery. I took to fiscals of Indian Princely states since I found hardly any research on these being done in India.

Q3 What is the future of philately? Day by day it is going away from the young generation. Young people do not seem to be involved in this hobby? What is the reason?

I won’t say it is dismal but it true that younger people are not drawn to this hobby as there are other avenues to keep them interested. It is not just an Indian phenomenon but all over the world. I met a Norwegian philatelist and he said that that the average age in his society is 55+. I feel there must be more frequent philatelic exhibitions in India at all levels - district, state and national. It might help younger generation to acquire a taste for the king of hobbies.

Q4 What is the role of Internet in the promotion of this hobby?

The net has revolutionised philately. It has become easier to acquire philatelic material and share knowledge through chat and blog sites. Your site the Rainbow Stamp Club is a case in point. This is a great site and it has been growing stronger over the last four years.

Q5 India Post is issuing a large number of stamps per year. Are you satisfied with the quality of stamps, issued by India Post? Don't you think that the quantity of stamps per year should be reduced?

In post independence India we had a very conservative stamp issuing policy till India Post found it could be a money earning proposition. Also, due to political pressure, there are too many personality stamps. I have raised this point so many times but then who is listening.

Q6 Give suggestions to improve the quality of Indian stamps as well as the topics which are missing on Indian stamps. It is a fact that stamps on personality dominate over other topics and it must be restricted.

Technically our stamps are good but wish that personality stamps could be restricted to 10 or 15. Let us have more stamps on art, culture, flora and fauna, architecture, textiles, handicrafts, and related to tourism in India.

Q 7 Share your most memorable experience in a philatelic event with the readers.

It was at a district level Exhibition when the Dutta family swept all the awards. My wife and our two daughters and I are probably the only philatelic family in India.

Q8 Last but not the least - you collect stamps for pleasure or investment? Or it is a blend of both?

I collect purely for pleasure. In the last 50 years that I am in philately I have never sold a stamp. I have gifted and exchanged, but never sold. They are so dear to me.

Dr Anjali Dutta

Q1 When did you begin your journey in the world of stamps? How did you develop this hobby over the years?

I began my journey in the world of stamps rather late, at the age of 28. I began by helping my husband with his collection and then went on to develop my own collecting interests.

Q2 Women philatelists are very few in India. What could be the reason that girls don't enjoy this hobby?

No one encourages girls to take up this hobby. If girls are encouraged, they enjoy this hobby equally. At a later stage, it is difficult to establish credibility with your peers and especially the dealers who are going to supply your material. I was lucky because my husband always encouraged and supported me.

Q3 Explain the pleasure of stamp collecting in your words.

The pleasure is not just in collecting stamps, but in making a study of them. It immensely increases general knowledge about different countries, their people, customs, etc. From bacteria to space-ships, stamps have been issued on diverse topics. It also helps you make life-long friends with people who have similar interests and age is no bar to this. I have known an 80 year old having a 10 year old as a philatelic friend.

Q4 What are your collecting interests in philately? Why did you choose the particular category for your collection?

My collecting interest is mainly in the field of fiscals. I chose this field as it tells us a lot about the history of our country, its revenue system, its court procedures and the cost of different types of litigation – and how this has changed over the years. But I began by collecting stamps of Great Briton and I still have my collection.

Q5 As a woman philatelist, what challenges did you face to reach this level (Participating in national and international exhibitions)?

The challenges were mostly on the personal front. I had to juggle my job, taking care of a household and my hobby. That is why I could do most of my research, sorting of material, designing and mounting of my exhibits, only late at night. Otherwise, I did not face any special challenge as a woman.

Q 6 Though thematic philately is not your subject of specialization but if you start collecting Thematics what subject would you choose to collect?

If I were to make a thematic collection I would make it on Art. All countries like to showcase their art and it can make a fascinating exhibit – with the scope to make a specialized collection of a particular region, for example - European art.

Q7 Tell about your most memorable experience in a philatelic event.

The most memorable experience that I had at a philatelic event was meeting late Mr Liaquatulla Khan, an eminent philatelist himself, at an exhibition in Jodhpur. He was the one who persuaded me to become an exhibitor from a collector. He persuaded me that if I owned some interesting philatelic material and had knowledge about it then I must share it with others.

Beginners’ Section

Do you know ?

The First Christmas Stamp

"It is a controversy as to which is the first Christmas stamp. The Canadian map stamp of 1898 [shown here] bears an inscription "XMAS 1898", but it was actually issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate. The Christmas connection has long been reported to have been the result of quick thinking; William Mulock was proposing that it be issued on 9 November, to "honor the Prince" (meaning the Prince of Wales), but when Queen Victoria asked "what Prince?" in a displeased manner, Mulock realized the danger, and answered "Why, the Prince of Peace, ma'am".

The entry goes on to say, "In 1937, Austria issued two 'Christmas greeting stamps' featuring a rose and zodiac signs. In 1939, Brazil issued four semi-postal stamps with designs featuring the three kings and a star, an angel and child, the Southern Cross and a child, and a mother and child. In 1941 Hungary also issued a semi-postal whose additional fees were to pay for "soldiers' Christmas". The first stamps to depict the Nativity were the Hungary issue of 1943. These were all one-time issues, more like commemorative stamps than regular issues.

"The next Christmas stamps did not appear until 1951, when Cuba issued designs with poinsettias and bells, followed by Haiti (1954), Luxembourg and Spain (1955), then Australia, Korea, and Liechtenstein (1957). In cases such as Australia, the issuance marked the first of what became an annual tradition. Many more nations took up the practice during the 1960s.
"By the 1990s, approximately 160 postal administrations were issuing Christmas stamps, mostly on an annual basis. Islamic countries constitute the largest group of non-participants, although the Palestinian Authority has issued Christmas stamps since 1995."

Source : Wikipedia

Last Post Office closes ....

The last independent Post Office in the Netherlands, in Utrecht, closes. It's a beautiful building as we can see from this old postcard.

The Netherlands, the first country without post offices….

- Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agrawal

“The Netherlands is a country with many ‘firsts’, not only in philately.

At the end of 2011 The Netherlands will be the first country in the world without post offices...”

When I read these lines in an e-mail sent by Mr. Ruud Elshout of The Netherlands, who collects on “Non Paper Stamps” and found my article “There was a Stamp….” Published in Rainbow Stamp News , 30Sept 2011 very interesting as well as informative from his collection point of view, I get curious to know more about this news and requested him for further detail if available with him. He mailed a short write up which I wish to share with my RSN readers.

The rise and fall of Post Offices in The Netherlands

Until the start of the 19^th century, the delivery of mail was not really organized and reliable. Typically the receiver of the mail had to pay the postal (delivery) fee. Due to its unreliable nature and refusal of the receiver to pay the fees, a large part of the mail remained undelivered.

In January 1799 the Dutch state monopolized the mail delivery and in 1810 issued the first Postal Act, regulating the delivery of mail.

In 1850 a second Postal Act was issued further regulating the mail service, called for the issue of stamps and the order to design and build post offices, one for every city in the country. The counties chief architect of that time, C. H. Pieters, alone designed 120 post offices, mainly for the larger cities. Many of these buildings still exist today, being architectural landmarks in the cities. Not all of them survived as post office. In 1992, the former main post office of Amsterdam was transformed into a luxurious shopping center.

In time, the post offices did not only handle mail and telegrams, but the organization was also responsible for the introduction and management of the telephone service. This new organization was called PTT (Post Telegraph Telephone). In 1998 the postal and telephone services separated into independent companies.

In 1881 the Dutch government founded a State Savings Bank (Rijkspostspaarbank), targeting the lower class workmen and provided them easy access to saving accounts.

In 1917 the city of Amsterdam founded the 'City giro' service, the first gyro payment system in The Netherlands. In 1918 the state owned 'Postcheque- en Girodienst' was founded, creating a country wide giro payment system. The daily administration and financial transactions for the above organizations were handled by the Post offices.

In 1977 and 1979 the Rijkspostspaar bank, Amsterdam City Giro and the 'Postcheque- en Girodienst' merged and in 1986 they were privatized under the name Postbank.

The post offices were reorganized and became a joint venture of the Post Office and Postbank. In time, the Postbank merged with another bank and an insurance company into the ING bank. For a long time thereafter, the Postbank operated as an independent bank from the ING.

For a long period of time, the Post Office was also a central hub in the distribution of legal documents like passports, driving licenses and car registration. Due to an increase in security, the issue passports and driving licenses was transferred to the local city councils.

At its height, 100 years after the introduction of the Postal Act, The Netherlands had around 2000 post offices.

The introduction of electronic payment and new technologies like the Internet (email, social media such as Facebook etc), saw a sharp decline in the amount of transactions at the post offices and the amount of mail delivered.

Many smaller post offices were closed and their services transferred to smaller booths located in bookstores, tobacco shops and supermarkets. Their tasks are typically limited to the remaining postal services.

In 2007 the Postbank dissolved into its parent company ING. Since the ING had its own country wide network of bank offices, the Post Office lost its main partner in the Post Office joint venture.

It was then decided to close down all remaining post offices and vastly increase the number of booths in bookstores, Tobacco shops and supermarkets. Currently there are now around 3000 of these booths, greatly outnumbering the once 2000 post offices.

On October 28^th, 2011 the last post office in Utrecht was closed. The building will turn into a hotel, restaurants and conference centre within a few years.

The Netherlands, the first country without post offices….

Last Post Office of The Netherlands: “Utrecht”, closed on 28^th October 2011

An important question left unanswered, “If this is so what will be the future of The Netherlands’s new issues after 28^th October? Within the stamp collector’s world in The Netherlands, some clear rules have been set: A stamp that is available through the post offices and via the philatelic office will count as a "stamp". Stamps which are only available through the philatelic office and not in the post offices will be regarded as a gimmick and not listed in the official catalogues.

Specialized Section

Advertising Postal stationeries, Stamps and Postmarks

©Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agrawal

Contd. From the last ….

2. Attached Labels and margins

Advertisements also can be found on labels that are se-tenant, or side by side, with a stamp. Some special issues of France also printed advertisements on Gutter pair in between.

Advertisements on labels side by side with a stamp

Advertisements on labels that are se-tenant, or Gutter in between

In 1924-25, Italy issued 19 stamps with attached advertising labels. However, the labels were not separated by perforations. It was contrary to the international regulations forbidding the use of advertising labels on stamps. Columbia record players and Singer sewing machines were among the products advertised on these Italian labels.

Attached advertising labels of Italy 1924-25 issues

Example of perforated advertising label attached to a stamp can be found on Canada’s 1990 Legendary Creatures block of four with McDonald's golden arches depicted on the selvage above or below the stamps. Stamps were released in conjunction with Canada's Stamp Collecting Month, and McDonald's Restaurants of Canada helped sponsor both Stamp Collecting Month and the four Legendary Creatures stamps. In return, as part of the sponsorship deal between Canada Post and McDonald's Restaurants

Canada Post printed the golden arches emblem in the margins around the panes of 50 stamps.

McDonald’s Restaurants emblem on the selvage

3. Advertisement as design of stamp

Some countries do not hide the advertisements on the backs of their stamps or on labels instead they proudly showcase their products and services as part of the stamp design e.g. Barbie doll ,Posters of films (Disney, etc), Monoi lotion, Book cover (James Bond, Disney, Tintin, Astrix etc.), etc.

Barbie doll Posters of Disney films Monoi lotion

Book covers of James Bond series

Stamps Booklets

Stamps Booklets provide space for advertising in number of ways. The narrow top and bottom margins in some stamps booklets can be printed with all sorts of advertisements.

Advertisements on narrow top and bottom margins

French booklets in particular can be a veritable gold mine for some themes.

The covers of the booklets often contain advertisement on front or inner cover

Advertising Inside and outside French Booklet covers

Some stamp booklets are also provided with small protective inter-leaves between the sheets of stamps, in order to prevent them sticking together. These protective leaves often contain illustrations of which some are even colour advertising products.

Advertising protective inter-leaves

Post cards Booklets of Switzerland also contains advertisement on their back and sometimes on covers.

Post cards Booklet

Postmarks and Meter stamps

Many times we find advertisements of commercial products in special cancellations. Postmarks also have been used to advertise products though USPS regulations prohibit such blatant advertising of private products or services in special cancellations.

Special cancellations advertising McDonald and Chelsea Flower Show

Sometimes the sender applies his own cancellation mark. Alongside the cancellation section there is space in this postmark for mentioning details about the sender. Although this postmark is applied by the sender, it must not be confused with a meter mark because the sender’s mark is applied on top of an affixed postage stamp, while with meter mark; the necessary franking value is indicated by means of the postmark imprint itself.

The poster-like ads that appear on envelopes alongside postage meter stamps promoting the ads of commercial products and services, special events and purposes, and worthy public causes are an important part of a meter used from its early days.

There are two types of postmark advertisements, slogan and pictorial.

Meter stamps

The American Civil War gave rise to other forms of advertising related to the stamp hobby: private-die proprietary revenue stamps and encased postage stamps. Though the advertisements on these Revenue stamps as cancel or in design or on holders in case of Encased Stamps as a whole is postal, but it does not alter the fact that they are indeed often looked on with great sympathy internationally, the more so as often only a few of them exist for each theme, so that a sparring use is made of them anyway.

Revenue stamps

Among US Revenue stamps, some of the most beautiful and whimsical were the Private Die Proprietary stamps. These revenue stamps were issued to help alleviate the extraordinary financial demands of the American Civil War (1861-1865) on the US Federal Treasury. The Revenue Act of 1862 required revenue stamps to be affixed to boxes or packages of matches, proprietary medicines, perfumes, playing cards, and even documents.
Private Die Proprietary stamps came about when manufacturers were permitted, at their expense, to have dies engraved and plates made for their exclusive use. Many were willing to do this because of the obvious advertising value. These stamps were in use between 1862 to 1883.Few examples depicted here are of Private die Playing Card stamp of ‘New York Consolidated Card Company’, Medicine stamp of ‘Oliver Crook & Co.’ for Dr. Crook’s Wine of Tar and Perfumery stamp ‘Corning & Tappan’ for Perfume .

Private Die Proprietary stamps

Some firms instead of printing their own Revenue stamps used Advertising cancels on existing Revenue Stamps. The U.S. proprietary revenue cancels of the 1860s and 1870s are a veritable treasure trove of snake oil and homeopathic remedies.

Advertising cancels on US Revenue Stamps

Encased stamps

Metal Encased postage Stamp used as coin was invented by J.Gault in 1862 in response to the public's hoarding of coins during the Civil War in USA and took its development during the First World war and some next years, in most of the European countries.

The advertisements on holders of Encased Stamps used are treasure-trove for thematic collectors. The variety of advertisers and the range of goods and services are astonishing. They include suppliers of pharmaceutical and petroleum products, wine and spirit merchants, brewers, hotel proprietors, owners of brasseries and restaurants, chocolate manufacturers, dealers in oysters, manufacturers of footwear and auto accessories, suppliers of optical and photographic equipment, and many more.

Advertisement on metal holder of Encased Stamps

Reader’s Right

India Year Pack 2009

Received , Year Pack 2009, through my PDA account.

I was shocked to see the price printed on the pack. There were totally 107 stamps issued in 2009, with three stamps in denomination of Rs. 20.
so the total comes to 104 x Rs. 5 = Rs. 520, 3 x Rs. 20 = Rs. 60 Total = Rs. 580.
But the price printed on the pack was Rs. 800...!!! Also the quantity of stamps issued were mentioned wrong as 104 instead of 107.Normally in previous year packs, the handling cost charged was around only Rs. 60

-Kasinath R.. Tanjore (Tamilnadu)

New Issues from other countries

Isle of Man

1 January 2012 London 2012 Olympic Games – 7 val + Miniature sheet

Ireland

24 Nov 2011 : Television shows – 3 val.

On November 24, 2011, An Post issued three stamps commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the first Irish television broadcasts. The stamps feature TVs and a hand-held device, which evoke a sense of the Past, Present & Future. On the screens are iconic images of The Late Late Show host Gay Byrne, children's TV presenter, Emma O'Driscoll, on the set of Hubble and renowned newsreader, Anne Doyle.

Irish Television broadcasting will be 50 years old on New Year's Eve 2011. A year of special broadcasting and other public events is planned by RTE across 2012, as Ireland moves fully into the digital age in its second half-century of Television.

Thailand and Pakistan joint issue

The post offices of Thailand and Pakistan have issued a joint stamp issue commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between countries.

Pakistan and Thailand formally began diplomatic relationships on 10 October 1951. Bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Thailand in 2008 was around US$750 million, with seafood and textile accounting for Pakistani export to Thailand, and motorcars and chemical products accounting for Thai export to Pakistan.

The investment boards of the two countries have also signed a memorandum of understanding on sharing investment intelligence, encouraging prospective investors and technical assistance. And a Thai-Pakistan chamber of commerce has also been established to facilitate trade and investment between the two countries.

The joint stamp depicts Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore and Victory Monument Bangkok. Stamp also shows the flags of both the countries and on the bottom is inscribed 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Thailand.

Philippines

5 December 2012 : 2012 – The Year of The Dragon 2 val + MS

Poland

8 December 2011: 20 Years of Independence of Kazakhstan

16 December 2011 Fruits Malina ( Raspberry) – 1 val

Thailand

15 November 2011 New Year – 4 val + MS

USA

3 January 2012 Spectrum Eagle” Presorted First-Class Mail

Philatelic Library

e books on Philately : All about Stamp Collecting

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37667833/Stamp-Collecting

http://www.askphil.org/b.htm

Online Stamp Catalogue…

Search stamps of different countries online…

http://www.catawiki.co.uk/catalog/100271-stamps

New Blogs & Websites

My Philatelic Journey : www.pamnani.info – A new Website created by Rajesh Pamnani of Hyderabad. The site is a very informative for the collectors of Indian Postal History.

A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi : http://www.gandhiworld.in/ - A new website created by ML Rajesh of Tiruvallur District of Tamilnadu. This website contains Gandhiji's memorabilia such as Stamps, coins, currencies, tokens, telephone cards, post cards, special covers, statues and a few rare photo graphs too. It is a complete website on Mahatma Gandhi .

Officially Sealed Mails of the World : http://www.poseal.com/ - A site dedicated to the study of Post Office Seals -

Sports Philately : http://www.sportstamps.org/ - Website on Sports Philately.

Se- tenant Stamps of India - http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.com/ It is a specialized Blog on se-tenant stamps.

Flags & Stamps - http://flagstamps.blogspot.com/ - It is a specialized blog on Flag Theme .

Glimpses of Modern Indian Philately : http://modernindianphilately.blogspot.com/

Stamp Sathi : http://stampsathi.in/# - A new website on Indian Philately created by Chintan and Ronit Parikh of Gujarat. It is a very useful site for all stamp collectors.

Phila India : www.PhilaIndia.info – A new website on Indian Philately created by Mahesh Reddiar of Krerala

Postmarks of India : http://www.indianpostmarks.blogspot.com/ - This blog is dedicated to Permanent Pictorial Cancellations available at Indian Post Offices.

Discover Topical Stamp Collecting : http://secretstostampcollecting.com/members/ - How-To, Tips, News, Reviews and Resources for Stamp Collectors

A new Blog on Modern Indian Postal History and Modern Philately of India, has been created by Mr Prashant Pandya. Idea of creating this blog ‘Glimpses of Modern Indian Philately’ by Mr Pandya is conceived to provide, share and discuss information exclusively on Modern Postal History or Modern Philately of India. Collectors of Modern Indian Philately around the world are invited to share the knowledge and information on the subject.

West Essex Philatelic Society : http://www.wepsonline.org./ A philatelic society with lot of philatelic activities.

Gandhi Stamps : http://gandhistamps.com - The website is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Philately. All the stamps issued on Mahatma Gandhi from various countries in the World have been featured.

Join Mobile Philately & Stay Updated - http://mobilephilately.blogspot.com/ Mobile Philately is a mobile technology based philatelic community with short messaging service (SMS) that allows the community members to get latest updates related to Indian philately directly into mobile message box.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Stamps-Philately-1610/indexExp_69442.htm - It is a site based on Question & Answers on Philately. Mr Prashant Pandya replies to queries.

Philatelic Clubs & Societies

Baroda Philatelic Society - http://www.vadophil.org/

Eastern India Philatelists’ Association - http://www.filacapsule.blogspot.com/

Indian Stamp Ghar - http://www.indianstampghar.com/

Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana - http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/

Ludhiana Philatelic Club

Mobile Philately - http://www.mobilephilately.webs.com/

Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Rainbow Stamp Club - http://rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/

Rajkot Philatelic Society – Rajkot, Gujarat

Gujarat Philatelic Association - Ahmedabad

South India Philatelists Association - http://www.sipa.org.in/

Stamps of India - http://www.stampsofindia.com/

The Lighter Side

COMMANDMMENTS OF PHILATELY

- Madan Middha

The Commandments are a set of principles relating to ethics of the life & hobby and play an important role in enjoying hobby the most. They include voluntary instructions to be followed by the people who believe in them. Different groups follow different set of commandments. Following is a set of 17 commandments which is for the philatelists willing to adopt the hobby for the fullest enjoyment of it, with an un-sinned and clear heart. Ponder over it.

01. THOU SHALT BE ORGANISED

Be a philatelist of the organized genre. Do join at least One Local,

One Regional (State Level), One National and One International Level philatelic organization. This keeps you in constant touch and up to date with other philatelists at different levels. This creates an atmosphere to encourage collection and other Philatelic activities and also to talk about them. Interaction with other philatelists there, makes you active and alert.

02.THOU SHALT BE MANAGABLE

Keep your philatelic interests to the manageable levels. Ideal combination is One Country Collection, One Specialized Collection within that country and One Thematic Collection. Too much countries or themes or "collect-what-comes-your-way” is just not manageable for long. Once you attain a reasonable degree of perfection in earlier collections, you can expand, but again, one collection at a time.

03. THOU SHALT REMAIN HOMESICK

While choosing Country, stick to Home Country. While seeking a theme, select a subject of your interest or profession. Obtaining materials from any other country is very difficult and financially unwise. Moreover you can not compete with a native as far the study and procurement of the material is concerned. Similarly choosing a theme related to your profession, business or interest, makes you benefit both the ways, professionally & in philately, with your increased level of gained knowledge.

04.THOU SHALT BE SPECIFIC

Do not keep everything that comes your way, for yourself. Keep only those items for yourself, which are useful for your collections or your planned collection for / in the near future. Use the "not needed" items for exchange or help / assistance to fellow philatelists .These type of items are great goodwill creators.

05.THOU SHALT BE A PHILATELIST & NOT A STAMP COLLECTOR

Do not just collect the stamps but study them to the maximum possible. Also add the allied materials to your collection, that too backed by their study. Search for Postmarks, Postal Stationery, Covers and other postal history items for inclusion in the collection. Do not stick to stamps only. Allied materials add to the philatelic value of the collection.

06. THOU SHALT LOVE THE USED

Emphasize on used material collection, used are true philatelic.

"Mint is Bought ....... Used are Discovered". As per the known and accepted definitions of classic Philately, only used materials are Philatelic and worth studying .You can buy mint materials but for used you will have to search for. Further, you can study a number of things like postmarks, routes, rates etc, only when the material is used. Study of the used material transforms you in to a philatelists from a mere stamp collector and money spender.

07.THOU SHALT NOT BE A DEALER IN DISGUISE

Do not accumulate extra materials for commercial / money making purposes. Be a Philatelist, or be a Dealer, do not try to be both. Do not become a dealer in disguise of a Philatelist nor vice ~versa. Accumulating extra materials for exchange purposes is O.K. but when you do this with a view to earn monitory profits, it becomes a moral sin for a philatelist.

08.THOU SHALT BE PROMPT & RESPONSIVE.

In Philately, never postpone the job to sometimes later. Put the things at place immediately, be it your material, communication or any other activity. It becomes un-manageable if the action is postponed for later. This results in accumulation of the task, which very soon becomes messy and un-manageable as the time passes by. Same is the case with communication, when thought for a later reply to a letter, the chances are that it may never by replied.

09.THOU SHALT BE AN AVID READER.

Books and periodicals are the best friends of the Philatelists.

Read the quality philatelic literature on a regular basis. Subscribe to reputed periodicals of National & International levels to keep you contemporary & up-dated. Often visit & search the Internet for new trends and activities in philately on global scenario.

10.THOU SHALT BE FRANK & BOLD.

Mutual & Reciprocal co-operation is the essence of the hobby. Philatelists help each other whole heartedly. Do not hesitate to ask for or shy-away when asked for, any help from or by the fellow philatelists. If you are in a position to help, do help. If not, tell the help seeker your inability to do so. You may also suggest an alternate action if you know any or direct the help seeker to another philatelist, who may be helpful, in your opinion.

11.THOU SHALT RESIST POLITICS ENTERING THE HOBBY.

Hobby is, and always should remain for the pure hobby lovers.

Power seekers and politicians in disguise of philatelists, are better kept aloof with their designs and motives. The power the true philatelists seek and gain is reflected in their collections and knowledge. We should air our suggestions in a positive manner and should not force them on to others.

12.THOU SHALT VISIT BUREAUX OFTEN.

Make it a habit to visit your local Philatelic Bureau on a regular basis. Similarly when visiting any place, where there is a philatelic bureau, make it a point to visit that too. You will find gems often there. A large number of not-so-popular philatelic bureaus in India still have stocks of some very much sought after philatelic materials.

13.THOU SHALT BE A REGULAR EXHIBITOR.

What value a collection has, if it is not seen by the knowledgeable?

Be a regular exhibitor at various philatelic exhibitions of repute, including Regional, National & Internationals. This helps evaluate & improve your collections. Moreover, the comments by the knowledgeable people help immensely to further improve the collections and knowledge.

14.THOU SHALT BE FRIENDLY.

Always maintain live friendships with other philatelists.

Friend are the most effective & economic source of philatelic material and knowledge. Friends are strength. Even otherwise too, good friends are very helpful in every sphere of the life. They are treasure. Philately is a great source to amass this treasure, make full use of it.

15.THOU SHALT BE HUMBLE.

Always hold your head on level, even if you have won awards and are recognized as an authority. Never avoid helping newcomers and youngsters. Remember your days when you were a newcomer to the hobby.

If someone would not have helped you then? Some big medals or felicitations should not distract your attention from your duties to help others.

16.THOU SHALT ALWAYS KEEP YOUR ARMS SPREAD.

Always remain open to new friendships and old friends.

Friends make an effective network to fulfill the deficiencies and build strengths. Philately is a great friend maker, only if you are open to it. Friends provide best possible inputs to your collections and knowledge. Keep your door open to friends and friends-to-be, to reap fullest benefit of this great hobby.

17.THOU SHALT SPREAD THE FRAGRANCE.

Always be prepared to promote Philately & Philatelic activities. Your activeness towards this goal will make the difference. People should know about the goodness of the hobby. Never let any chances go, to talk about Philately and it’s suitability for any everyone everywhere. You must spread the fragrance of the flower you love the most, i.e. Philately. Make others’ lives as fragrant as the hobby has made yours.

- Madan Middha – Gwalior - email : madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

Promotional section

Picture Postcards

Vipan Kumar Thakur of Chandigarh shares here some picture Post cards prepared by him on Kavi Pradeep. Vipan Kumar Thakur may be contacted at email : philavpnthakur@rediffmail.com

View all cards

ITS Stamp News

"ITS Stamp News" . Philatelic newsletter on Thematic Philately. To subscribe the newsletter contact Mr Suraj Jaitly Mobile: +91 98728 51244 MIG # 3464, Phase Two, Dugri Road, Ludhiana - 141 013 INDIA email : indianthematicsociety@gmail.com ITS Stamp News at http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Newsletter on MAXIMAPHILY

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF MACSU

The Maximum Card Study Unit of America

Founded in 1978, the Maximum Card Study Unit (MACSU) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, collection, exchange, enjoyment, display, and study of Maximum Cards, by spreading the knowledge of Maximaphily among its members Membership includes a subscription to Maximaphily USA, a quarterly journal featuring news of the maximum card world and articles by members and experts in the field.

Articles featuring topical collecting typically are richly illustrated with maximum cards and share the author's insightful knowledge of the subject and his own personal and helpful experience. The pages providing information regarding activities of individual members allows members to place free advertising for trading, buying, selling and exchanging information. Here the opportunity to make contacts with members in other countries is provided.

There are articles evaluating maximum cards according to accepted standards, pointing out good

qualities and making suggestions for improvement.Mail bid auctions are held on occasion, featuring inexpensive cards donated by members.Every issue provides a page or two of illustrations of the most recent maximum card creations by our members. Every member gets a chance to show his cards and write an article about them.

- Terry Watson, President, Maximum Card Study Unit

email : TERRYW7633@comcast.net or MAXICARDS@gmail.com

Philatelic items from Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle

JAMMU AND KASHMIR POSTAL CIRCLE issued a variety of philatelic items during recent Jammu stamp Show listed below.

Download Order Form ( Doc.)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75744576/Jammu-Stamp-Show

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

Stamp of India Collectors’ Companion - India’s first and most updated weekly e-newsletter edited by Madhukar and Savita Jhingan from Stamps of India, New Delhi. E-mail: mjhingan@yahoo.com Website: www.stampsofindia.com

ITS Stamp News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic Society website - http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Phila News, Editor Rajesh Pahariya and published by Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

VADOPHIL, Editor - Prashant Pandya and published by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara. Website -http://www.vadophil.org/

e ZEP Newsletter http://www.ezep.de/zpj/zpj.html Editor : Dieter Leder email zpj@arcor.de website www.eZEP.de

SIPA Bulletin Editor - Mr G. Madan Mohan Das and published by South India Philatelists’ Association, Chennai website : http://www.sipa.org.in/

FILA Capsule – Editor : Ajit Dash and published by EIPA, Bhubaneshwar.

GPA News – Editor- Ilias Patel and published by Gujarat Philatelists’ Association, Ahemadabad.

Kar Phila News published by Karnataka Philatelic Society & edited by by Akshay Borad

e–mail : akshayborad@hotmail.com

Editor’s Mail Box

Deepak Dube, Korba, (Chhatisgarh)

Heartiest Congratulations to you on reaching the milestone of the fourth year with ' Rainbow' -- a beauteous phenomenon on the firmament of contemporary philatelic journalism. Philately is on its way to become a complete academic subject ,within the Humanities say--in the first instance-- of History and Historical Research, with its own science of approach and method. And 'Rainbow' shall ever be remembered and cherished for its pioneering contribution in this graduation of the Vocation from a mere hobby to an academic discipline.

You merit compliments, first of all, for helping to revive the philatelic instincts of countless dormant collectors through presentations that are essentially very compelling and challenging for the wide compass that they assume under your very discrete and discerning editorship and vision. Secondly, you must be applauded for presenting Philately for what it essentially is-- a calling that is educative, instructive and constructive-- free of the discrepancies of commerce and controversy--- in the domain of legacy that is capable of having a personal as well as a social or a national aspect .

Thirdly, you deserve accolades for keeping clean of prosaic and dull deliberations in pages that are colorful, lively, attractive and interesting; and as such very promotive of the cause they are espousing. Further, into the contemporary global community of ailing metabolisms you have very effectively injected afresh the message of a calling that is so innocuously engaging-- providing joyfully cosy spaces of sheer fulfillment through the thrill of possessing beautiful little treasures that give untold fun and all that leads to moments of happiness, and some health . Kudos. -)

ML. Rajesh, Chennai

I congratulate for the Great Rainbow stamp News letter reached in 5th year, I wish to reach the Stamp News more than 100 years............ Thanks once again...........

Shiv Bagla, Kolkatta

I am regular reader of your site and your efforts are all unique with wide coverage available on site.Thanks and Heartiest t and congratulations.

Mail from Tamil actor Mohan V Raman

Dear Ms.J Jyoti ,

I saw your website/Blog and must thank you for the wonderful service being done by you for all Indian Philatelists. I am a member of SIPA , Chennai and have been collecting Stamps on Cinema.

Mohan V Raman

Chennai
http://sites.google.com/site/mohanraman/home
http://mohanramanmuses.blogspot.com/

Dear Mrs Jyoti,

I am extremely happy to note that OUR Rainbow Stamp News has entered 5th year of its publication. Heartiest Congratulations. Undoubtedly this is the best and informative news letter that is being published. Time has passed so fast and though I am regularly reading the newsletter as well as the blogs for the last two years, having developed lot of interest seeing the contents of these I even traced many of the old newsletters and blogs and learnt a lot from them. You are doing a wonderful and selfless service to the philatelic community. The amount of information that is given and the efforts put in to collect the same for the benefit of the readers is adorable. Some of the regular articles in the Stamp News are extremely educative and research oriented. May God Bless you and your team to continue this wonderful work.

with warm regards,

Cdr G.Sriramarao,I.N(Retd)

Vishakhapatnam

Thanks to all of you for your kind words of appreciation. - Editor

RAINBOW STAMP CLUB

This is a blog of e-stamp Club www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com . The idea of this blog is to extend philatelic fraternity in all corners of the world. Readers may write about themselves with their collecting interests and share new ideas with other philatelists. New Post on recent issues, news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are published every day on this blog.

Readers may also express their views on any philatelic matter which will be published under Club News at Rainbow Stamp Cub Blog. Philatelic Clubs and Societies may also send brief write ups. News about new issues of India and abroad and other information related with Philately are regularly posted on this blog. Readers may send reports on new issues, special covers, cancellations & philatelic activities of their area for inclusion in this Blog. - Editor

Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this issue - Stamps of India, ; International Stamp News ; Mansoor B.- Mangalore ; Ashwani Dubey – Gorakhpur;; Prashant Pandya – Vadodara; Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad; Hemant Jain, Mandla (MP); Markand Dave - Nadiad ( Gujarat); Mahesh Reddiar, Chennai; Europa Stamps; Deepak Modi – Jalna (Maharashtra) ; Raman Kumar Mandal - Gorakhpur

Address for communication:

Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Kullu (H.P.) PIN 175126 India

E-mail – j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com

Last date for receiving write ups – 25th of every month. Kindly send images in jpg compressed format & text in MS Word only.

If you liked this issue please forward it to your friends and help in promoting philately.

A Request to Readers & Contributors-

Please do not send the text in scan form or PDF. Send your write ups in MS Word only.

Kindly specify your contribution such as article/News/ Reader’s Right / Beginners’ Section/ Lighter Side etc.

Please do not send forwarded messages for promotional section if you want to give any information for promotion please write personally with brief write up. As this newsletter is not used for any commercial purpose in any manner.

Attention -
Please send limited number of images in compressed jpg format only with your article. Please send text and images separately. Please do not send text or image for publication in PDF.

…..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti, from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) India.

2011-12-04T06:27:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas !!

Shimla December 2011 Vol. IV Issue # 48

Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin Edited by Jeevan Jyoti for free circulation among philatelists

Ms. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Distt. Kullu. PIN 175126. (H.P.) India

Dear Reader

It gives me immense pleasure to release 48^th issue of Rainbow Stamp News. With this issue it completes 4 years of publication and enters the fifth year. I can’t imagine how the time of four years passed away. During the journey of 4 years I came to know many new friends from the field of philately and my circle of few friends which could be counted on finger tips expanded into a big philatelic community. Perhaps this is the best part of my philatelic journey. The objective of this newsletter is just to bring all stamp collectors closer and give them updates of philatelic activities . It is also my endeavor to encourage all those who have lost interest in this hobby and make it their pastime again. Of course with the time the hobby is diminishing but internet is a good medium to rejuvenate the interest of all those who once cherished the joy of collecting stamps but could not pursue further.

This journey of four years could have not been successfully completed without the contribution of my esteemed readers and distinguished philatelists who contribute articles and news regularly .

I always try to make this newsletter available to my readers on 1st of every month. But this issue is delayed due to some unavoidable personal reasons and I could not publish it timely. I wish to express my gratitude to all my readers and regular contributors who put colors every month to make it a Rainbow magazine !!

At last I wish to share here that some years ago I met the veteran philatelist and artist Shri Dipok Dey in Kolkata whom I know since my school days and he always encouraged me to do something new…. he just said to me “ Jyoti , you write and continue to write as he knew I had worked with late Shri BJ Kumar, editor U - Phil Times, published from Kanpur and I could work for a magazine…I said I will do but could not think how to work consistently for a magazine…. As publishing a stamp magazine is not an easy task…especially when you are always moving from one place to another. At that time Internet was not so popular…but gradually it became the part of everyday life and it gave me an idea to bring out a colorful online Internet magazine…It is before you….I never knew that it will be a successful venture….. Now it has readers in India and abroad. How can I forget your love and respect for Rainbow ??? I am always indebted to all of you …… and will always try my best to give more Rainbows in the years to come…even if the time is not favorable to me…....This is all in this issue…More in Next….

Have a Great Time…..Happy Collecting !!

…. Jeevan Jyoti

Contents

Recent Indian Issues

In The News

Interview

Beginners’ Section

Specialized Section

Readers’ Right

New Issues from Other Countries

Philatelic Library

Philatelic Clubs and Societies

Blogs & Websites on Philately

The Lighter Side

Promotional Section

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

Editor’s Mail Box

Rainbow completes 4 years of publication

Messages from distinguished Philatelists and contributors

Four long years and still going strong !

· Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti has been editing and publishing "Rainbow Stamp News" for the last 4 years. At the onset of every month "Rainbow Stamp News" appears punctually, without fail, on the screens of enthusiastic philatelists and stamp collectors in all countries and continents. I think this is something to be taken into consideration by every Indian, with utmost pride for and thankfulness towards the worthy editor of this wonderful monthly on internet from India and that too it reaches thousands all over the globe free of charge. Another aspect which I must stress, that it is in colour. All stamps, covers and cancellations are reproduced in their original size and colour, which undoubtedly adds to the philatelic knowledge of the viewer and reader. I do not know, if today there is any other publication of a similar get-up and composition available on internet in the world.

Also the articles which appear every month in "Rainbow" are sumptuous feasts to the eyes of the beholder and they are the useful tools to increase the philatelic as well as general knowledge of every philatelist dealing with different sections of this wonderful hobby.I wish that this link of publication may continue in future month by month, without pause and may Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti create a special place of her own in the philatelic journalism. I wish "Rainbow Stamp News" and its editor and publisher Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti every success and a long life in service of philately! - Dr. Avinash B. Jagtap (Binningen, Switzerland)

· On completion of 4 glorious years of Rainbow Stamp News, my hearty Congrats to you for achieving this milestone single handedly and so successfully. The point worth mentioning is that you have maintained total non-commercial approach in your publication, without any sponsorship too ! I wish you continued success for long time to come. - Shrikant Parikh - Ahmedabad www.setenantsofindia.blogspot.com

· Jeevan Jyoti deserves to be congratulated for her ever growing devotion in publishing from last four years "RAINBOW STAMP NEWS" which is like dream come true for philatelists of all ages and repute. - Dr Satyendra Kumar Agrawal, (Gold medalist philatelist and Journalist) - Varanasi

· I am happy to learn that your blog 'Rainbow Stamp News' is completing journey of 4 years. Information provided on your blog is very interesting and useful to the philatelists and because of this reason your blog has gained good popularity and have attracted several visitors. Wish you many more successful and happy years of blogging and good luck for the future journey. – Prashant Pandya - Vadodara

· It’s a matter of pleasure that Rainbow is completing its 4 years. Congratulations to you for successfully publishing the same with your pure ingenuity which has not only given Rainbow a height of glory in philatelic field but given you a status of a true, dedicated philatelic service person. Certainly , you have given new directions to philately and today we see many many e-magazines which follow Rainbow... Rainbow, the pioneer of e-publishing in India will always possess its name in the hearts of philatelic generations to come. Frankly, Rainbow has presented and served philatelists/readers with variety of philatelic material, information and stuffs to help them enhance their knowledge and get guidance to improve collection and exhibits irrespective of class of philately .I mean a service provider to cater a budding stamp collector to a veteran in this field. The popularity that Rainbow has gained can be gazed from its association with renowned philatelists world over.I hope Rainbow will continue its tireless service to the philatelic community like it has been giving .But one thing again needs to be considered seriously that Rainbow is not complete without your sincere mention. You being the creator.. deserves all thanks, congrats and appreciation for giving such a gem to us. Your hard work, dedication and will to serve has given this height to Rainbow.

I wish rainbow a very big success and look forward for its long association in future. To be very frank, Rainbow has now become part and parcel of my life and so of the others too. A dose of Rainbow in the morning, keeps a philatelist healthy and energetic for the whole day. Finally, my thanks to you and best wishes for continuation of Rainbow for the years to come. - Naresh Agarwal, Bilaspur (C.G.)

· I am happy to know that your bulletin "Rainbow Stamp News" is going to complete 4 years of its successful publication. At the present philatelic scenario it is very difficult to maintain a bulletin with updated news and figures without the support from the Postal Department. I must congratulate you for taking sincere effort with keen interest for editing the useful monthly bulletin. Now a days your bulletin is very popular not only in India but also in other countries. Philatelists and stamp collectors, irrespective of their age, are getting benefit out of your bulletin. I wish and hope you will continue the same tempo in future. My best wishes for your success. - Ajit Kumar Dash, Secretary, Eastern India Philatelists’ Association, Bhubaneswar

· Congratulations to you for completing four years of “Rainbow Stamp News”, which is actually RAINBOW in real for philatelic world. Credit for its success goes to your timeless efforts and enthusiasm behind the same. This internet bulletin is need of the prevailing time with advanced and fast growing technologies. And this internet version is really so attractive for one and all due to actual coloured pictures, which can’t be available in any magazine of India. Hope it gets more success in future – my best wishes are always with you. - Suraj Jaitly, Ludhiana – Editor, ITS stamp News

· I am very happy to know that Rainbow Stamp News will be now entering into its 5th year of e publication. The time is moving like anything, I still feel that it was just few months back I went through the 1st posting of Rainbow News but now see the Rainbow will be celebrating its 4th birthday. I believe that Rainbow due to its assorted articles on stamp collecting have made its own place among the readers. My best wishes to Rainbow Stamp News, the contributors, the readers on completion of its 4 years of publication. - Deepak N. Modi, Jalna (Maharashtra) Promoter - Mobile Philately

· Heartiest congratulations This speaks volume for your untiring and quality work Fantastic and all the best. - Vijay Deshpande, Pune

· It’s a great news indeed that your monthly e-Stamp Bulletin “Rainbow Stamp News” is heading towards ‘Silverware’ year. I congratulate you and appreciate your zeal and zing. - Babul Dey, Kolkata

· I express my sincere and heartiest congratulations for successfully completing four years in philatelic publishing. Your pain stacking efforts and cordial relations with fellow philatelists have helped you in sustaining this e-news letter, otherwise it is very difficult to remain in publishing in philately. - Ilyas Patel, Ahmedabad

Many Thanks to you all for kind words & Best Wishes !!

- Editor

Recent Indian Issues

2 September : Surendra Nath Jauhar – Rs 5

3 September : Dev Narayan – Rs 5

7 September : Tejaji Maharaj – Rs 5

8 September : Tripuraneni Gopichand – Rs 5

25 September : Jaimalji Maharaj – Rs 5

30 September : The Trained Nurses Association of India – Rs 5

9 October : Chitrapur Math – Rs 5

12 October : The Punjab Regiment & 1 Para - SF 1 – Punjab

8 November : Centenary of ICMR – Rs 5

14 November : Children’s Day – Rs 5 & Rs 20 + MS

25 November : Grand lodge of India – Rs 5

Forthcoming Stamps from India Post

Dec 06: Smile Train / Cleft Palate Surgery

Dec 11: Kavi Pradeep

Dec 19: Golden Jubilee of Goa Liberation

Dec 19: The President’s Fleet Review

Dec 22: Srinivasa Ramanujam

Dec 00: R Venkataraman

Special Cover – Postmark

Nov 04: Anantnag, Achabal

Nov 04: Anantnag, Badgam

Nov 04: Anantnag, Verinag

Nov 04: Anantnag, Kokarnag

Nov 06: Srinagar, Voluntary Health Association of India

Nov 07: Baramulla, Mohd Maqbool Sherwani

Nov 11: Mumbai, 11-11-11

November 11 : Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, Palakkad ( Father of Malayalam Language) – 2 covers

Nov 16: Jammu, Comptroller & Auditor General of India

Nov 16: New Delhi, St Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Nilambari district philatelic exhibition 1/4

Nov 16: New Delhi, Kamla Nehru Ridge, Nilambari district philatelic exhibition 2/4

Nov 17: New Delhi, Coronation Park, Nilambari district philatelic exhibition 3/4

Nov 17: New Delhi, Fatehgarh (Mutiny Memorial), Nilambari district philatelic exhibition 4/4

Nov 19: Ahmedabad, Heritage Week

New Stamp Booklet Picture Post Cards

Philatelic items issued during Chinar -2011, Srinagar

· :-4 stamp booklets (containing 6 stamp of 5.00 each)

· :-15 stamp booklets (containing 10 stamp of 5.00 each)

· :-Stamp cards (set of 8 cards) with India Post logo on back side

· :-Picture post cards (set of 12 cards) without India Post

A special stamp Booklet on Children’s Day has been recently issued by Gujarat Postal Circle. View more details of Booklet..

In The News

China opens first 'space post office'

A new task for Chinese astronauts -- collecting and chopping mail ?

To celebrate docking of the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft with space lab module Tiangong-1, China's post authority has opened a new branch office outside the country and out of this world -- 343 kilometers above the Earth, to be exact.

Opening for business , the China Post Space Office has two venues -- one on-the-ground base inside the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center (BACCC) and one "virtual office" aboard the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft.

There is also a new designated post code -- 901001. China Post Group’s general manager Li Guohua told China Daily the post office will be able to deliver mail from the public to astronauts in future. The office will also issue postal souvenirs that depict China's major astronautic events, such as stamps and envelopes.
We weren't exactly sure what a virtual space post office was or how it all worked, so we made some calls. We left the 'why send mail to space when you can email or Skype chat' question for another day.According to staff at the BACCC post office (which houses the worldly version of the space post office) the new branch handles normal postal as well as courier services. All mail going through the BACCC office will be chopped with a special postmark showing the date in numerals, and “Beijing” and “Space” in simplified Chinese.

Philatelic fans can also send a letter to themselves to obtain the postmark by providing an extra envelope with sufficient return stamps (RMB 0.8 from Beijing, RMB 1.2 from other Chinese cities) and an address. Beijing News reported Shenzhou-8 had in its payload three postcards to space this trip.

According to the report, it is possible the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft, expected to launch in 2012, will take stamps and letters from the public into the final frontier.And what sort of mail might be carried?

“For example, [people] can send us their wedding photos or vows to travel to space with the spacecraft. After [the spacecraft] brings them back, the space post office will mail them back to the owners on the agreed date,” an anonymous manager at Beijing Haidian post office told Beijing News.

Special 11 .11.11 card from Malta Post…

Malta Post Philatelic Bureau has issued the eleventh Card in series on the date when the day, month and year coincided - 11.11.11.

The first Card in this series had been issued on 1 January 2001, with a date stamp carrying the same figures - 01.01.01. The last Card in this popular collectable series is expected to be issued on 12th December of the year 2012, and stamped with the figures 12.12.12.

This Philatelic Bureau Card carries the €2.07 stamp from the set Malta - Iceland Joint Issue 2011:which was issued in September 2011 and has been numbered and cancelled with the "Fishing Villages" date impression 11.11.11.

The Card is available from Friday 11th November at all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo, from the Mobile Post Office and from the Philatelic Bureau.Further information is available from the Malta Post Philatelic Bureau at www.maltaphilately.com or on Ph. 2596 1740.

In Memoriam Steve Jobs

Hungary Post (Magyar Posta) is issuing a philatelic novelty in memory of Steve Jobs. The numbered commemorative sheet includes a perforated photograph and has been issued in a limited edition. The commemorative sheet will be available in a special holder for collectors of philatelic rarities and people who wish to preserve the memory of the visionary genius.

The perforated design of the commemorative sheet features a portrait of Steve Jobs. On the right of the border design there is the inscription "In memoriam Steve Jobs 1955-2011" and at the bottom left the inscriptions "EMLEKIV" and "Commemorative Sheet". The numbering is printed vertically at the top right and Magyar Posta's logo at the bottom right. The commemorative sheet can only be purchased as part of the commemorative card placed in a Hawid mount. The external and internal sides of the commemorative card are decorated by silhouettes of certain movements characteristic of Steve Jobs, while on the inside there is an extract from the writing of Erno Rubik in Hungarian and English.

5,000 copies of the commemorative sheet and commemorative card, designed by Barnabas Baticz, were printed. This commemorative sheet cannot be used to pay for postage.

Europa 2012 Theme – Visit….

Europa stamps have always very special theme. Europa 2011 theme was Forests and next year’s theme is going to be related with Tourism and has been declared as Visit…

Jersey Post will issue two stamps on 10 January to commemorate Europa 2012 theme. All the stamps will be related with tourist activities or scenic beauty of the particular country.

Forthcoming International Stamp Exhibitions..

IPHLA 2012

Specialized International Exhibition for Philatelic Literature

Applications for ‘IPHLA 2012’ can be submitted until February 1, 2012.

For any information please contact to Mr. Wolfgang Massen, Email: w.maassen@alip.org

THAILAND 2013

PCI has nominated Mr. R D Binani as Commissioner for India, his address :33-B Rowland Road, Kolkata 700 020 E mail : binanipm@gmail.com Mob:9830073058

China 2011 - 27th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition

The 27th Asian International Stamp Exhibition China 2011, co-sponsored by State Post Bureau, Jiangsu Government, China Post and All-China Philatelic Federation, was held in Wuxi Taihu International Exposition Center from November 11 to November 15, 2011.

Award List of Indian participants

Heartiest Congratulations to all participants !!

Dinesh Chandra Sharma- Lucknow, Lallan Singh - Patna, Naresh Agarwal- Bilaspur (CG), Madan Middha – Gwalior,Surendra Goel-Raipur,Dipesh Miglani- New Delhi

B. K. Jain - 75 Points – Large Silver
Surendra Goel – 78 Points – Large Silver
Virendra Sharma - 81 Points – Vermeil
N. K. Agrawal –78 Points – Large Silver
Lallan Singh – "Hows And Whys of Birds" - 81 Points - Vermeil
Lallan Singh – “The Four Seasons” - 70 Points - (1 frame)
Naresh Goel - 68 Points – Silver Bronze
Dinesh Chandra Sharma – 82 Points - Vermeil
P. Sarkar – 67 Points – Silver Bronze
R. Bhansali – 60 Points - Bronze
Naresh Agrawal – automobiles - 75 Points - Large Silver
Dipesh Miglani - INDIA, THE GREAT COUNTRY - DISCOVER THROUGH
MINIATURE SHEETS – 62 Points - Bronze
Madan Middha – Literature - 61 Points – Bronze

INDONESIA 2012 WORLD STAMP CHAMPIONSHIP

Mr. S. Sahoo, is National Commissioner for India. His address is :- D-3, BJB Nagar, Bhubanshwar 751 014 Email: sahadevas@yahoo.com

Due to technical problems, there will be a delay in the bulletin and hardcopies of Entry Form + Inventory List of the INDONESIA 2012 World Stamp Championship to be sent to all countries by the organizing committee.

The organizing committee of INDONESIA 2012 WORLD STAMP CHAMPIONSHIP has rescheduled the deadline for sending the entry form.

THE CLOSING DATE IS ON 15TH DECEMBER 2011. On that date the entry form should already arrive to the Organizing Committee.

Wedding Bells

Many Congratulations to Mr Ajit Dash on the wedding of his elder son Biswajit Dash with Manini Tripathy which held on 27 November 2011. Best wishes to newly wedded couple for a long and married happy life from whole philatelic community.

ODISHA STAMP MELA – 2012

A gala Stamp and Stationery Mela is going to be organized at Bhubaneswar, Odisha for the 1^st time by Eastern India Philatelists’ Association, Bhubaneshwar.

Date : 7- 8^th January 2012.

Venue : Hotel Keshari, Master Canteen Square, (Near Bhubaneswar Railway Station).

Co-ordinator : Mr. Shanti Swarup Rath, e-mail – sswaruprath@gmail.com Cell: 09437034621 Dr. Bibhudatta Mishra, e-mail – bhanubibhu@gmail.com Cell: 09437282638

Interested Dealers are requested to contact the coordinators either by Phone or e-mail .

Associates:

Utkal Philatelists and Numismatic Association, Cuttack

Orissa Philatelic Association, Cuttack

Department of Post, Orissa Circle, Government of India

School Partner: Mother’s Public School, Near Unit-1 Market, Bhubaneswar

Read details.. Programme

Stamps of India National Exhibition

National Stamp Exhibition, SINE organized by Stamps of India and Bhartiya Daktikit Sangstha, Kolkata, from 3- 6 November 2011 at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ajay Maken – India’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) Youth Affairs and Sports.

The exhibition had special display on 100 years of Delhi; World’s First Stamp – Penny Black;, Scinde Dawk – Red and White - A popular name for the first stamp issued in Asia in 1852; India’s first stamp issued in 1854; 1st Aerial Post Cover between Allahabad and Naini; 1st stamp of Independent India and a variety of stamps honouring India and Indian from countries across the world.

The jury team was led by Dr Sita Bhateja as President with Sahadeva Sahoo, and AK Bayanwala as Vice Presidents, Anil Suri as Secretary, Savita Jhingan, and Arun Agarwal as Jurors. Rajesh Varma and Prashant Pandya were the Apprentice Jury while P R Maru was the Senior Consultant. The Jury awarded 12 Gold, 32 Silver, and 17 Bronze medals. The complete Award List is available on the website at http://www.stampsofindia.com/ChaloDelhi/2011/awarawardslist.htm
Other Special awards include Kishor Chandak, Indian Postal Instructional Labels & Markings 1874 – 1907, Gold with National Champion Grand Prize; Abhai Mishra, Icy Continent & Indian
Expeditions, Gold with National Grand Prize; Anirudh Sethi, Fiscals of Gondal State, Gold with Best In Class ‘Revenues’; George Sebastian, The Sun Myths And Manifestations, Gold with Best in Class 'Thematic'; Abhiti Mishra ABC Through Stamps, Silver with Best in Class 'Youth'; Carmel High School,Flora & Fauna, Silver with Best in Class Trophy - 'School Collection'

Forthcoming Exhibitions in India

UPHILEX 2011

A state level exhibition is proposed to be held in Lucknow from 16 to 18 December 2011 at Lalit Kala Academy Regional Centre, Aliganj Lucknow.

RAJPEX 2012

GUJPEX 2012

Gujrat Postal Circle will organize a state level exhibition GUJPEX – 2011 at Akota Atithi Gruh, ( opposite Akota Stadium, Akota Road ,Vadodara from 23 – 25 December 2011 . During the exhibition 6 special covers will be issued. Stamp Collectors from Gujarat state can participate in this exhibition. For more details contact : Timir Shah e mail : trs_shah@rediffmail.com or Secretary ,GUJPEX –2011,o/o Postmaster GeneralVadodara Circle, Vadodara – 390002. Gujarat

The date of acceptance of entry forms for participation and booking of dealer’s booth for Gujpex-2011 is extended from 05.12.11 to 12.12.11.

Mahapex 2012

Pune will host the four-day 11th state-level philatelic exhibition, Mahapex 2012, at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch from January 13 next year. After 25 years, Pune will be hosting such an exhibition for Maharashtra and Goa. The Prospectus of 'Mahapex 2012' was unveiled by Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra circle, Faiz-Ur-Rehman, on Friday at Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management.

The postmaster general of Pune region, Colonel (retd) KC Mishra, mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad Yogesh Behl were present on the occasion. Among Philatelists Pratisad Nurgaonkar, Basti Solanki, Dixit, Col. Dutta, Mrs.Dutta, Col.Pujara, Vinayak Avate from Pune, Suketu Zaveri and Surendra Kotadiya from Mumbai, P.G.Bhargave from Nasik, M.J.Karajagi from Solapur and Deepak Modi from Jalna were also present.

Mr .Rehman said that it would be a big-budget event, where renowned Indian philatelists would be participating. The show will host 400 exhibition frames exhibited by over 300 philatelists from the two states.

Exhibitions in December 2011

Dec00-00: Alwar, Philatelic Exhibition

Organizers: Alwar Division of India Post

Dec00-00: Jodhpur, Philatelic Exhibition

Organizers: Jodhpur Division of India Post

Dec 9-11: Pune, COINEX-PUNE 2011 National Numismatic Exhibition

Venue: Sankalp Hall, Lalbahadur Shastri Road, Navi Peth, Opp. Petrol Pump, Pune

Organizers: International Collector's Society of Rare Items Pune

Interview

Ajit Dash needs no introduction to the philatelic community. He is a noted philatelist and Secretary of Eastern India Philatelists’Association, Bhubaneswar and honorary editor of Phila Capsule , newsletter of EIPA. I have long association with Mr Dash and know him well for his active work during all the exhibitions organized in Bhubaneshwar. He is at present Government Examiner of Questioned Documents, Document Examination Laboratory, Vigilance Directorate, Odisha, Cuttack. Mr Dash has specialized in Dog theme and has been awarded several national and International awards for his exhibit. In his professional career Mr Dash received National Award for Best Scientific Paper in Document Science in XIX All India Forensic Science Conference, 18-20, January, 2009, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He is a very active and enthusiast philatelist and received medals in various National and International Philatelic Exhibitions for his specialized thematic exhibit on Dogs. Here Mr Dash answers to some of my questions and gives a guideline for the promotion of philately. Mr Dash also shares here memories of his long philatelic journey and experiences in obtaining some rare philatelic items and the best time spent with his philatelic friends .I am pleased to publish his interview in this special issue. - Editor

Interview with Ajit Dash

Q1. When did you start collecting stamps and how were you introduced to this hobby ?

Ans:- I started this hobby of collecting stamps since 1969 when I was at class-VII. I used to collect used stamps from covers thrown in the dustbins of different government/private offices. I don’t know how I was introduced to this hobby. What I remember, once I had seen some stamps pasted in an ordinary Khata of one of my senior colleague in the school which had impressed me and I started collecting the stamps. There was always a competition during the recess period as to who will first collect the covers from the dustbins.

During my School period (1969-1971) at Dhenkanal District of Odisha, CTO stamps of different countries were found inside the wrapper of a chocolate, the name of the chocolate I couldn’t recollect, those were sold in a small cabin adjacent to my School. The demand of the chocolate was very high. I used to collect stamps of Hungary, Poland, USSR, etc. in this process of purchasing more and more chocolates. This was a unique system during that period through which Philately was promoted. Any philatelist has come across such experience? I shall be happy if some philatelists may like to share his experience.

Editor : That was Frutex…Am I right ?. Which was also available during my school days.

Q2. You have a specialized thematic collection on dogs. What prompted you to choose this theme?

Ans:- Basically I am a Police officer. Long back I was also in charge of the Dog Squad of Crime Branch, Odisha for few months which developed a special attachment towards this animal. I was very much impressed upon the manner in which the stiffer dogs detect the criminals or explosives or the narcotics during search operations. Being a philatelist I decided to collect stamps on dogs only during 1995.

Q3. You have special interest in Thematic Philately. What are other branches of philately which you really enjoy ?

Ans:- Besides my thematic collection I also like to enjoy the other branches of philately such as Traditional, Mophila, Special covers, Maximaphilly and Postal stationery.

Q4. You have an active association "EIPA' which holds exhibition time to time. In your opinion what type of support the Philatelic Societies need from Postal Department to organize private philatelic exhibitions successfully?

Ans:- Philatelic Societies and Department of Posts are the two sides of one coin. Hence all the philatelic exhibitions, starting from the District level to International level, should be done with mutual understanding and co-operation of both the sides. Most of the Philatelic Societies/Associations are having Philatelist with sound philatelic knowledge and the Department of Posts has the man power and administration in organizing the exhibition. The Department should always extend their official support along with some financial assistance as far as practicable to a Philatelic Association or Society who are intending to organize such exhibitions. The major expenditures incurred in the exhibitions are (a) Frames, (b) Appointment of Jury and (c) Medals. The Philatelic Societies/ Associations in India have hardly any buildings of their own, although they are registered. It is not possible for a Society/Association to prepare and store adequate number of display frame for the exhibitions. Hence the Department of posts may consider in preparing sufficient display frames as per the FIP Guidelines in each Districts so that those can be used in conducting small exhibitions at District level, which will obviously generate philatelists from the grass root. There are sufficient spaces available in Postal stores for storing these frames. This will be a onetime investment for the department which will be of much help on long run. The present trend shows lack of interest in philately not only in youths but also in the senior level. It is the need of the time to take some special steps to create awareness among the youths for this noble hobby. Department of Posts is getting major revenue by selling the philatelic stamps and stationery in India. Another major problem which is also a cause of discontentment is the enhancement of fees by the Department of Posts for release of special covers by Philatelic Societies or private parties. It is seen that the issue of special covers have been reduced remarkably after the enhancement of the fees. This is not at all a good sign for the future of Philately. In my opinion the Department of Posts may reconsider this enhancement for the betterment of Philately. Department of Posts may charge nominal fees for the frames prepared by them which can be utilized for their maintenance.

Q5. A philatelic magazine gives updates about this hobby to collectors. But today only few magazines are seen in print format. As an editor and publisher what difficulties arise in bringing out a stamp magazine in print format?

Ans:- A philatelic magazine always gives updates about this hobby to collectors. Pain is always there for an editor when he thinks of its print format. There is limited space available for a magazine on print format. It is very difficult for an editor when there is more/less news or information for publication. Time is a major factor for the editor. The editor has to give sufficient time for the edition of the news or information for the magazine. Once these are edited timely, the other important task of its timely printing and stapling. Preparation of labels of the subscribers, pasting them on the magazine along with the postage stamp and their timely dispatch are other important factors which is difficult to manage with limited man power and finance. Hence, it is essential for an individual/ Organization to be financially strong and have sufficient manpower to handle the above line up. The problem of getting articles, proper title for the editorials suiting to the situation is always there. Publication of a magazine is always a collective effort. If it goes below the minimum level, it is not possible to run a magazine in print format.

Q6. In your opinion, what is the present status of philately in India ?

Ans:- The present status of philately is not good in India. There is lack of interest from the Department of Posts. Although the Department is getting major revenue from philately, the share given for philatelic promotion is negligible. Lack of interest in also noticed among the youths. The apex philatelic body in India is defunct. No alternative steps are taken for preparation of new Jury panels either by Department of Posts or by the PCI. Time will come, when there will be no accredited jury in India to evaluate the exhibits in exhibitions. It is high time to think every philatelist seriously about this problem. There are no adequate representatives from each state in the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC) of the Department of Posts who can take initiatives for bringing out stamps relating to their own states on different themes. It is seen in the past few years that more and more stamps are released on personalities of specific area. This practice should be avoided. There are vast fields in India for release of new stamps; some of them can be taken instead of these personality series. Vast reorganization is required in the postal set up for the promotion of Philately. In my view this noble hobby is going to be a dying hobby unless special attention is given.

Q7. What is your opinion on the number of stamps issued by Department of Posts every year. Don't you think that the number of stamps should be reduced and stamps on personalities must be restricted and new themes should be given place on stamps.

Ans:- It is totally disappointing regarding the stamp issue programme of Department of Posts, Govt. of India as noticed in the past few years. Although some revolutionary steps are taken in issuing aromatic stamps, hexagonal stamps, personalized stamps, etc., it appears that there is no specific guideline or rule in issuing the stamps. The programmes are changed time and again; in spite of strong standing orders the stamps are frequently pre issued; there is lack of timely supply of FDC, brochures, stamps, cachets at the Philatelic Bureaus. In my opinion there should be 40-50 stamps released every year. There should be a limitation on issue of stamps on personalities subject to 10% of the total number of stamps released, 40% on thematic, 20% on Culture, 20% on Flora & fauna and 10% on exotic stamps. Govt. may think of issuing local stamps on personalities for issue in the specific States to which the person belongs. This will create a new branch on Local stamps and the concerned Postal Circles may be empowered to issue such stamps with due approval and consultation of the concerned State Governments. The stamps on the National leaders only be released nationwide so that the Philatelists can get interest in collecting them. It happens that young philatelist lose interest in collecting stamps on those personalities whom he neither read nor know in their school books.

Q8. What do you think about “One Frame Class” in the exhibition ?? What is the future of this class ?? Do you agree that medals should be awarded in this class too in order to encourage more collectors to participate in the show ?

“One Frame Class” is a phenomenon started about 10-12 years back which helps a beginner to build a new theme, when there are sufficient stamps not available with him on the subject selected. The beginner may develop his theme to a higher frame competitive class after getting sufficient materials on the subject. Hence this one frame exhibit leads and inspires him for further development. Sometimes there are limited stamps available on specific theme and the scope of their availability is scarce, then it is appropriate to build a “One Frame exhibit” on the subject or country and there is hardly any scope for its extension to higher frames. It is difficult to evaluate a ‘one frame exhibit’ when there are several ‘one frames’ on same subject, there is a possibility of committing errors in evaluating in such “One Frame Class”. A philatelist cannot display all the important items in “One Frame exhibit” when the subject of the theme is common and interpretation of “important items” in such themes may vary from jury to jury. Another drawback is that, there is no provision of medals in this category for which this category fails to attract the main stream. A Philatelist has to edit several steps in against his will due to limited availability of space. In my opinion the future of “One Frame Class” is not bright, unless some changes have to be made in them in the rules. Two types of evaluation procedure is needed one for the beginners who are upcoming on common subjects and the ones where there is less scope of their development. I agree that medals should be awarded in this class too in order to encourage more collectors to participate in the show.

Q9. Give suggestions and new ideas that India Post could use to promote philately among youth.

Ans:- A major reorganization is necessary in the present set up of India Post, if at all necessary for the promotion of philately among the youth. The department may think of a new branch namely “Philately Management”, Officers and men of different ranks can be engaged in this work. Philatelic Societies and leading philatelists can be selected by appropriate examination/selection and a National Panel of Philatelists can be prepared which will be renewed in every 4 years. Small committees can be formed in each district or circles comprising of philatelists from the National Panel and the officers of Department of Posts with some budgetary provisions. These small committees can monitor philatelic activities in the districts and submit their reports from time to time. It is their responsibility to hold small exhibitions, essay competitions, stamp design competitions, philatelic quizzes, etc. in different schools at regular intervals. They will also look after the procurement of philatelic materials such as stock books, hawids, protecting covers, etc. and supply them to the students who have interest in philately at a subsidized/ appropriate price. In my opinion items should not be given free of cost except in exceptional cases. The department may follow a procedure in bringing new exotic items which will attract philatelist. The subject of Philately can be introduced as an optional subject in school/college level and some provision of research work leading to Ph.D can be thought by the Department which will give scope to the senior philatelists to do more research work on their subject and can give new shape and vision to Philately. By this process the Department of Posts will enhance the revenue collection to a higher level and also promote philately in youth.

The Department of Posts, may consider establishing small Philatelic Libraries in each Philatelic Bureau. Stamp reference Books, International Catalogues ( SG Catalogue, Scott Catalogue, etc.) may be purchased and made available in such libraries for the benefit of the philatelist, which are not usually within the reach of a common Philatelist. These catalogues are very much helpful in building a collection may be of any branch of Philately.

Q10. Describe the pleasure of stamp collecting in your own words.

Ans:- Collection of stamps should always be limited to hobby only and should not be used for any other means. The colorful stamps in stock books are like flowers in the garden. A real philatelist gets pleasure whenever he looks his exhibits in an exhibition irrespective of the awards given to him. In cricket an umpire is always honored even if he gives a wrong decision, as it is always presumed that the decision is not intentional. In philately also the same think might be occurring, but we should respect the jury decision. It is seen in several occasion, unfair situations have been created which is not at all which is also not a healthy symptom for the future of philately. One should think that he is collecting only and only for pleasure and not for any think else so that he can enjoy the hobby of kings or the king of hobbies.

Q11. Last but not the least share your most memorable moment with the readers of your philatelic journey....... Any rare philatelic item you got by mere chance or any special memories of a philatelic event

Ans:- I have covered almost 42 years of my philatelic journey. There are people who have inspired from time again to be in this hobby one of them I should name Mr. Anup Kumar Raut, who had given the initial boost when I was about to leave this hobby. I must name Late Major S. C. Mohanty who had provided all philatelic support during that time. He was the only person who was regularly holding philatelic activities in his house and Cuttack during those periods. I was serious about this hobby only during 1994-95. The concept of EIPA was the out come of a small Philatelic club namely Bhubaneswar Philatelic Club formed during 1997 after ORPEX-1997 by sitting four members Mr. Bijoyshree Routray, Mr. Debasis Mitra, Mr. Anup Kumar Raut and myself. EIPA has come up during May,1998 with an intention of Promoting Philately and to give new shape to the present trend. We are proud that our Association has foot prints not only in Odisha but also in several other states like West Bengal, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, etc. We are having Philatelists of International Reputation. We have successfully conducted one exhibition EIPEX-2008 at Bhubaneswar which was inaugurated by the Governor of Odisha. Besides, our Association also extended full support and co-operation in organizing the National Exhibition MILLEPEX-2000 at Bhubaneswar. The design of the stamp and FDC on sea turtle Olive Ridley was done by our senior Philatelist Mr. B.K.Sinha which was released during the exhibition by Sh. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha. Another Philatelist Mr. Anil Dhir have published several Philatelic Books. He also produced and directed one Documentary film titled “The Last Post’ which earned several awards. There are also other Philatelists namely Shanti Swarup Rath and Dr. Bibhudatta Mishra who are consistently updating latest philatelic information in their own philatelic websites. The interview on Philately of Dr. Mishra was also published in an leading Philatelic Journal of United Kingdom. We are proud of them. We are also proud of other Philatelists of our Association having sound philatelic knowledge and ability to hold even International exhibitions. The achievement of our Association is a collective effort and support of all our members.

The rare item I got by chance was the Guru Granth Sahib stamps. One I went to Cuttack Philatelic Bureau for some stamps where I came to know that the stamps on Guru Granth Sahib have been released. I purchased one sheet of sheetlet, two miniature sheets and two FDCs. I asked them for cancellation, in reply they told that the cachet has not yet come. I returned back to Bhubaneswar and tore some stamps from the sheetlet and used them on FDC and sent by speed post to my son. I did not knew about the withdrawal of the stamp at that time. But the same stamp was not on sale at Bhubaneswar Philatelic Bureau. In our EIPA meeting I told my Philatelic friend to collect the stamps on Guru Granth Sahib form Cuttack. Some of them has purchased and some could not. Later I came about the withdrawal and thought If I could have purchased one more sheetlet, as the sheetlet I purchased was torn.

The chance I lost to get the stamp of RK Shukla. One of my friends Mr. Rajesh Sinha advised me to purchase stamps on RK Shukla immediately from Bhubaneswar GPO as the print was one lakh only. I didn’t take him seriously and by the time I turned up to the GPO all the stamps were sold out which were available with the dealer at Rs.10/- per stamp at that time. This happened too many of our philatelists. Thanks to Mr. CR Das, who was kind enough to distribute one stamp of RK Shukla to all of us who didn’t have the stamp.

Mr Ajit Dash may be contacted at email : akdash2000@gmail.com

Beginners’ Section

India is the first country to issue the first stamp in Asia . These stamps are popularly known as the Scinde Dawks . It was July 1, 1852 when Mr. Bertle Frere , the commissioner of Sind ( now in Pakistan ) introduced paper stamps which were limited to Sind district only for circulation . The central design of the stamp was the East India Company's wide arrow and the stamps were embossed in different colours . The value of the stamp was 1/2 anna and the words 'Scind District Dawk' were printed on it in a circle . Vermillion stamps were issued first but they had a very short life because they were embossed on very fragile paper . White stamps were issued later on but embossing on white paper could not be seen clearly . So stamps were finally issued in blue colour on white paper . These stamps are famous among stamp collectors as Scinde Dawks were not only first in India but also in Asia . Scind Dawks were withdrawn by Sind Posts Department on September 30, 1854 because regular stamps of India were issued on October 1, 1854 . Scind Dawk is one of the rarest stamps of the world . India issued on October 19, 1977 a 100 paise stamp on the occasion of Asiana -77 depicting this famous Scind Dawk stamp .

Souvenir Replica of 3 Scinde Dawks – White, Blue & Red

: Timir Shah, Vadodara

Specialized Section

DISINFECTION OF MAIL

By Naresh Agarwal

Contd…from the last

PLAGUE :

The Black Plague, was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, widely thought to have been caused by a bacterium named Yersinia pestis (Bubonic Plague), but recently sometimes attributed to other diseases.It most likely began in Central Asia and spread to Europe during the 1340s and showed devastating effects reducing the world’s population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in 1400.

09.01.1730 Lipsia(Leipzig) to Firenze(Florence).’C.Aviso’,(with advice of payment). Scorching and the craynned’S’ (for Sanita’) indicate Venetian precautions against plague.

Prior to 1730, the Venetians opened suspect letters and “Perfumed” them, without applying heat. From 1735,new regulations required heat treatment; and if opened, to be certified by an endorsement, hand struck marks being used from the 1760’s.The crayon ’S’ was provisional.(the slits were made for a ribbon and seal to close the letter, and not for fumigation.)

Epidemics affected mail at Honolulu ten times between 1853 and 1900 and six of those occasions came in the UPU Period. Not all of these episodes involved disease in Hawaii. Some were epidemics at places such as San Francisco or in Asia and steps were taken in Hawaii to disinfect mail from those placed before delivering it. Covers from at least two periods when Honolulu was gripped with cholera or plague show evidence of disinfecting.

By the early 20th century, plague, typhus, and yellow fever were known to be transmitted by arthropod vectors

Disinfected Cover dated Oct.26,1912 from St. Petersburg to Rakhinka, Astrakhan (addressed to "Dr. Dmitri Yakovlevitch, who was fighting the Plague") and struck with fine straight line "Obessarashenko" disinfection marking in blue-black. Cover was received in Astrakhan (8/11) and the disinfection cachet was probably applied there on arrival.

Disinfected cover dated Nov. 27,1911 franked from Novaya Kazanka (Astrakhan)) to St. Petersburg during epidemic of Plague in Astrakhan and struck (probably on dispatch as there are traces of staining to the envelope) with fine Cyrillic "Dezinfitsirovano" straight line disinfection cachet in violet.

Later scientific knowledge attributed the spread of the Plague and Cholera respectively to rat fleas and polluted drinking water. The measures taken to disinfect mail are now seen not merely as inadequate but unnecessary .

ANTHRAX :

Anthrax is an acute disease in humans and animals caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis which is highly lethal in some forms caused caused by inhalation, gastrointestinal absorption, skin exposure. This is usually fatal, and symptoms usually begin days after exposure. There are effective vaccines against anthrax. Some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment.

Mail in the collection of author treated for anthrax packed in polythene/plastic cover with mail disinfection related information

The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its FBI case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on September 18, 2001. More than 5000 letters containing anthrax spores were mailed through USPS to several news media offices killing five people and infecting severely 18 others.

Until the 20th century, anthrax infections killed lacs of animals and people each year in Asia Australia, Africa, North America, and Europe. French scientist Louis Pasteur developed the first effective vaccine for anthrax in 1881. Thanks to over a century of animal vaccination programs, sterilization of raw animal waste materials and anthrax eradication programs in different parts of the world which has checked the spread of Anthrax in big way.

Letters dated 18.09,2001 postmarked Trenton, N.J. Outside, they were addressed to NBC anchor Tom Brokaw and to the Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle containing anthrax spores /powder killed 5 people and infected 18 others throughout the US. including 2 postal workers.

SARS : (SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME )

It is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by SARS corona virus .There has been one near pandemic to date in the years 2002 and 2003 with more than 10.000 known infected cases and about 1000 confirmed human deaths. Within a matter of weeks in early 2003, SARS spread from the Guangdong province of China to rapidly infect individuals in some 37 countries around the world.

Disinfected Post card dated 13.09.2003 suspected infected by SARS

Looking in to the severity of the epidemic, in 2003 the proposal of the constitution of a new European monitoring, regulatory and research institution had been made, since the already available system of surveillance had found an enormous challenge in the global emergency of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In the absence of a targeted vaccine, general preventive interventions have to be relied upon, including high healthcare surveillance and public information. Quarantine has, then again adhered to as the same had strongly suggested its validity.

Disinfected Post card dated 01.05.2003 suspected infected by SARS

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE :

Foot-and-mouth disease, FMD or hoof-and-mouth disease, is a highly consanguineous and at times fatal viral disease of cloven hoofed animals, including domestic animals such as cattle, water buffalo , sheep, goats, and pigs. It is caused by foot and mouth disease virus.

22.04.1920 Official letter from Fraubrunnen, podst free,to the local police, during a food and mouth epidemic. Sprinkled with “Kresapol”(a saponated solution containing Cresol ).Disinfected ( Desinfiziert ) with a rubber hand stamp, at the contonal police station.

Disinfected cover dated 08.06.1923 Dieterswil, North of Bem to Thun, S.E.of Bern. Desinfiziert cachet

YELLOW FEVER : In 1793, yellow fever swept through Philadelphia, then our federal capital. Alexander Hamilton left town, and President George Washington remained at Mount Vernon until the fall frost had been reported up North. Mail from the tropics, particularly Hawaii, was treated against yellow fever. In the United States in 1712, when yellow fever threatened Boston, mail from docking ships was first exposed to burning sulfur. Mail from the tropics, particularly Hawaii, was treated against yellow fever.

Ordinance Pertaining to the Destruction, Disinfection, and Sanitation of "Infected Property"

This is an ordinance, passed by the city council of MacClenny, Florida, December 18, 1888, emphasizing replacement of items destroyed in the course of disinfection, while putting in place the possibility of imprisonment or a $100 fine for failure of property owners to comply. The ordinance illustrates the necessity of a direct relationship between local authorities and the national Marine Hospital Service prior to the establishment of the State Board of Health. It also shows how rigid and stringent the disinfection and inspection measures sometimes were.

TYPHUS :

Typhoid fever is an illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi. It is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with farces from an infected person. The bacteria then multiply in the blood stream of the infected person and are absorbed into the digestive tract and eliminated with the waste. This bacteria grows best at 37°C . In the history Typhoid has also spread like an epidemic at different places from time to time.

In 1813, typhus decimated the French army in Moscow, forcing Napoleon to retreat to Paris.

Army Surgeon-General on Typhoid Fever

The cover has been designed and manufactured by Brigadier-General George M. Sternberg, a leading bacteriologist and Surgeon-General of the United States Army, during his sanitary recommendations in 1898 emphasized the danger of polluted water and advocated usage of boiled or purified water and proper disposal of waste to check spread of Typhoid Fever. The cover’s actual user, however, enclosed a letter detailing the stateside ravages of typhoid fever.

DECONTAMINATION CERTIFICATE :

DISINFECTION CERTIFICATE :

Goods imported into the country could be seized and treated or even destroyed. The certificate hereunder shows the disinfection of wine flagons imported from Timor. The parcels post section of every state sent goods to be disinfected to their local quarantine station or board of health. Parcels of second-hand clothes or animal products were often treated.

FUMIGATION CERTIFICATE :

The Fumigation/Disinfection Certificate certify that the goods contained inside the container have been fumigated/disinfected against insects, fungi or any other kind of parasite that could be carried within the wooden material. In some countries is not mandatory; costs are different depending on the quantity of goods to be disinfected and are not included in the Shipping expenses.

CERTIFICATION OF DECONTAMINATION :

Once letters had been decontaminated, some sort of certification was noted on them. As late as 1837, a paste or wax seal was affixed to fumigated letters. But this certification was impractical with large numbers of letters, so soon each letter was simply stamped, much like a modern-day postal cancellation. Cancellations, cachets, seals and marks were used to certify the same.

DISINFECTION EXAMINATION STAMPS :

Japan early disinfection examination stamp K5752

HEALTH PASSPORTS :

These health certificates were initially referred to the medical health of the ships, vessels and the material arrived in to a zone and not referred to the individuals normally until mid of the 20^th centaury Later these were issued to individuals.

Italian Health Passport

PRATIQUE :

It is the license or health certificate given to a ship to enter port on assurance from the captain to convince the authorities that he/she is free from contagious disease. The clearance granted is commonly referred to as Free Pratique.

Pratique issued at New Heaven, Connecticut in April11, 1777 during an epidemic of smallpox. It reads “This may certify that Samuel Jacket is clean from the smallpox so that he may return to his business and not expose to public”

FITTNESS CARD :

The card were issued to passengers certifying that they were fit and needed not to be detained at quarantine.

The card was required to be kept by passengers to avoid detention by Quarantine in New York, or while travelling by Rail or Steamers in the United States

QUARANTINE INSPECTION CARD :

At Sydney Harbor, the ships arriving needed a certificate of freedom from disease that pertained to the entire ship, and that would be determined by the route on which the ship had come. If the ship had come to Sydney from London via what was then Ceylon, and if there was known to be an epidemic of cholera or smallpox in Ceylon, then that entire ship would be understood to be diseased and it would be put in quarantine for a certain period of time. So for mail to be assured as clean the entire ship was needed to have clean certificate of disinfection and cleanliness irrespective of the health or otherwise of the individuals on board.

Early 1940 Quarantine Inspection Card Issued by Dollar Steamship Company for passenger arrival at Honolulu

FINAL REMARKS :

In the past for almost last 500 years and even now , the mail has been considered a major carrier of epidemics throughout the world as its quantity and movement has increased tremendously. And so, there are strict and regular measures employed to check the same. Different sanitation, quarantine disinfection and decontamination rules, laws and acts were made from time to time by different governments, authorities and administrations. Quarantine is still in existence and is being appreciated at times. However, with the development in medical sciences, there has been change in treatments given to the mail adhered to in past because of lack of knowledge regarding the cause of disease. Also different methods have been adopted utilizing latest technology to handle good quantity of mail in limited time with assurance of disinfection.

THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE :

Naresh Agrawal is a well known name in the field of philatelic writing in India as he has been writing on selected topics of philately which have not been so widely explored in India. His work has always been in direction to promote philately in one way or the other. His remarks and suggestion given from time to time have been well acknowledged. He has pursued this hobby since his childhood. In this article he has again taken up a topic to introduce the philatelic fraternity in general with a strange but strong aspect of philately. The matter, the text and the images have been taken in parts from different net sources and reshaped in to an article to make readers understand in brief the history, necessity, methods and other aspects of disinfection of mail and mail articles. Printing and publishing limitations have restricted and limited the article. Author thanks all the sources from where the information has been taken while informing that the article has been shaped only for philatelic fraternity for development of this hobby .

Mr Naresh Agarwal may be contacted at email : nareshkumar1992@yahoo.co.in

Advertising Postal stationeries, Stamps and Postmarks

Postal Stationeries

With the birth of postage stamp and Postal stationeries, advertisements got their pride of place on these items in many ways, sometimes to meet the printing and other expenses or for collecting charities for many social organizations if needed.

And companies or organizations used this opportunity of advertisement of their products or special events on Postal items to reach the desired concerned community, within and outside the country, economically. Advertising covers are "miniature works of art".

When First Postal stationeries of the world, Mulready Sheets and Mulready Envelopes were issued by Great Britain in 1840, proudly advertisements of many firms, social and government organizations, daily use products etc. printed on them.

Mulready Sheet

After Mulready Sheets and Envelopes, soon more and more postal stationeries of different kinds allowed a part of free space of them for commercial advertisements. Few types of stationery provided as much as 75-80 % of their free space for advertisements e.g. Bavarian Letter sheets, French Lettres-Annonces,

Letter sheet, Bavaria Lettres - Annonces, France

Advertising Telegrams, Belgian Gyro covers, News paper Wrappers etc.

Telegram

Giro Cover, Belgium Newspaper Wrapper, GB

Even few inserted additional advertising leaves inside them. The best known example is BLP Letter issued in 1920 for a limited period and only in one country- Italy. It is a letter on which many advertisements appear on the front, back and inside and few even got inserted advertising leaves. Part of the yield from the advertisements was used to sell the public at a lower rate than the normal franking value and a fair-sized yield not to Post Office but to an organization which provided support to the war-wounded.

BLP Letter, Italy

A rare method of advertising on embossed prestamped envelope was an advertising ring around the stamp indicum.

Advertising Ring/Collar

In modern times PAP stationery envelopes of France, Publibels of Belgium, Lottery cards of China, Eco cards of Japan, Meghdoot cards and Customized envelopes of India are also remarkable advertising postal stationeries with variety of pictorial themes available on them.

PAP Stationery Envelope, France Publibel, Belgium

Lottery card China, Eco card, Japan, Meghdoot card, India

Customized envelopes of India

An imprint on an envelope, usually in the upper-left corner, for the commercial, institutional or private source using the envelope, similar to business card or letterhead imprints is known as ‘Corner Card’. It usually includes a return address. Indian Bazar Card also falls in this category. Also envelopes supplied to guests along with stationery are among the most common advertising covers.

Corner Card, USA Bazar Card, India

Especially, 19^th & 20^th C Advertising stationeries of above types seem important for their thematic appeal illustrations or texts but they have no place in thematic exhibits as these have been printed after the item has left the Post Office.

Postage Stamps

Stamps were used for advertising in number of ways. Sometimes printing advertisement on their backs, on margin, attached labels or on stamp itself as its design.

1 .Back of Stamps

One of the earliest forms of advertising on stamps appeared on their backs .In 1893, New Zealand sold advertising space to the advertising firm of Truebridge, Miller and Reich to use the space on the backs of its 1882 and 1893 issues bearing portrait of Queen Victoria for advertisements.

Advertisements on back of New Zealand Stamps

All sorts of products were marketed on these stamp backs, including cocoa, Beecham's Pills, Flag Brand Pickles, Sunlight Soap, coffee, coal, sewing machines, cough syrup etc. printed before the gum was applied. Each stamp of the sheet had a different advertisement. Usually the advertisements are in red, red-brown, brown or purples and all shades in between. The sheets were in 4 sections of 60 giving a whole sheet of 240. Here is one reconstructed sheet showing how they were issued.

Reconstructed Sheet of Advertisements on whole sheet of 240, New Zealand

Many other countries also followed this tradition of using back of their issues for advertising.

Advertisement on back of South African Stamps

Usually, embossed foil stamps issued by many countries from 1960 were produced with a foil layer on top of a paper layer, the back of which has repeating lines of tiny type / illustration for postal information or any type of advertisement.

Advertisement of Harry Winston, American jeweler

Whereas Odd Shaped, self-adhesive stamps attempted advertising on their peeled off backing.

Advertising on peeled off backings

Many countries have used the back of the stamp to explain what is depicted on the front.

Stamp design details on their backs

This advertising venture on back of any stamp was not successful for the reason, once a stamp was affixed to an envelope or advertising labels of self-stick stamps peeled off, nobody could see the advertisement.

To be contd…..

Dr SK Agarwal may be contacted at e-mail : rosephila@hotmail.com

Forgery – Be alert

Here is an article on forgery . The article was published in PPS (Portuguese Philatelic Society) Bulletin no.195/October 2011 . I am reproducing the article to make people alert about the forgery. We will have to stop these forgers in interest of genuine philately !!

Forged 'SPECIMEN' on stamp of King Carlos I (Mouchon design) of year 1903

New Bechuanaland Forgeries

By Dave Davies

I am very sorry to have to report to the membership that the very situation that I feared and tried to avoid when writing the report on the Bechuanaland U.P.U. "Specimen" forgeries in Bulletin No 183 (pp. 19 -23) has occurred

Because I only had a suspicion of who was the peddler of these dangerous forgeries and did not have proof positive I was unable to name him. I had hoped that when he knew that someone was on his trail he may have reformed. I am sorry to tell you that greed seems to have got the better of him and the forgeries are still being offered at auction, the last time at an auction house in Germany as recently as February 2010.

Read full article..

Reader’s Right

This is just to draw the attention of all regarding Poor Speed Post service of India Post . I sent my exhibits for SINE, a national stamp exhibition, speed Post article No. EE735499912IN to Mr Madhukar Jhingan, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi from Bhuntar Sub Post Office Kullu on 31st October 2011. As per Speed Post tracking record the article reached New Delhi on 2nd November. But it was not delivered to the addressee on 2nd November. In fact there was no transaction on 3rd and 4th November. On 5th November the article was delivered to the addressee.

Is it a reliable service of which India Post boasts of ????? Due to negligence of the Postal Department my exhibits could not reach the destination and it could not be displayed as the exhibition started from 3rd November 2011.

Who is responsible for this delay ….. ??? The concerned post office must give a clear explanation for this delay . Why was the article not delivered on the date it reached New Delhi. It was not sent either on 3rd or 4th November. It caused lot of inconvenience and my exhibits could not be displayed in the exhibition. Interestingly my 3 other exhibits posted from Chennai on the same day that is 31^st October reached the addressee on 2^nd November.

Being a philatelist I am highly disappointed that due to negligence and poor working of India Post my exhibits were deprived from participation in the exhibition…. What about if it was someone’s admit card for examination or interview letter for a job ?????? How India Post justifies its working ??? - Editor

A comment from reader….

The article is about philately. It’s a nice one. But the author of this article is more of a business person rather than a professional philatelist. Budding philatelists, who cannot assess the exact value of a stamp get cheated by these people because they sell stamps at a very higher price in online portals like ebay. These guys are not at all professional and they tend to cheat newbies by playing cheap tricks. Beware !!!! In fact I am an enthusiastic philatelist, got cheated by these people badly. I lost around $ 70 because of a damaged item they've sent and refused returns. It was my first bitter experience till date.

This comment was given by a reader on an article published in RSC Blog. The name of the dealer mentioned in the comment has been removed

New Issues from other countries

Australia

2 November 2011Remembrance Day 11.11.11

Remembrance Day, initially known as Armistice Day, marks the anniversary of the armistice on 11 November 1918, which led to the end of World War I - the Great War. Remembrance is observed through one minute's silence at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in honour of those who have died or been wounded in all theatres of war.

The significance of the commemoration throughout allied nations increased in 1920, with the return to Britain of the remains of an unknown soldier. Felled on the battlefields of the Western Front, he was interred with full military honours. At the end of World War II, the Australian government agreed with Britain's proposal to rename the annual observation Remembrance Day, extending the commemoration to those who have served in all military conflicts.

The most notable symbol of Remembrance Day is the red poppy, or Flanders poppy (Papaver rhoeas). It gained resonance for being among the fi rst plants to bloom on the battlefields of northern France and Belgium during the Great War. For soldiers, the red petals represented the blood of their fallen comrades.

Estonia

17 November 2011 :From the Treasurey of Estonian Art Museum

Famous market painting by Henn-Olavi Roode

The paintings of Henn-Olavi Roode (4 Nov 1924 – 25 Dec 1974) constitute the most extensive attempt to interpret and develop post-war modernism in the constrained circumstances of the period. Roode did not limit himself to one sphere alone, and his searches in painting were expressed in city, interior and marine views. In the mid-1960s he took up abstractionism while also experimenting with portraits in different interpretations. In 1962 he painted his famous Market, which has been called the artist's manifesto. Roode's most important canvases were large compositions with numerous figures; they are the most serious works concerning the relations of figures, movement and space in the Estonian painting of the 1960s.

France

4 November 2011 : Discovery of the Clipperton Island.

Clipperton Discovery Stamp from France The French Post has issued a stamp dedicated to the discovery of the Clipperton Island.

Often called the island of passion, Clipperton is located in the Pacific Ocean, over 6,000 km from Tahiti and 1,300 km from the coast of Mexico. It is an isolated atoll of subcircular form of 6 km2 from which approximately 2 km2 of land. It contains a lagoon closed and isolated from ocean water masses, surrounded by a strip of narrow land.

The island was discovered on Friday, April 3, 1711 by Frenchmen Gustave Charles Martin de Chassiron and Michel Dubocage, commanders of the frigates "Princess" and "La Decouverte". The name of the Clipperton Island comes from the name of English naturalist and pirate John Clipperton, who, from some sources, had crossed the waters of the island, and from others, had even landed there in 1704.

The island has long been coveted by Mexico and England, but on January 28, 1931 the French sovereignty was recognized there thanks to the log-books of Martin de Chassiron and Michel Dubocage. Its fauna and flora are quite limited; we should note first of all the presence of crabs (Gecarcinadae), masked boobies, and a few coconut trees.

Hong Kong

24 November 2011 : Hong Kong- China, Romania Joint Issue :

Poland

25 November 2011 Christmas – 2 val.

Russia

3 November 2011 : 20th Anniversary of foundation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The Russian Post has issued a stamp to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of foundation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS is a regional international organization aiming to regulate the cooperation between the 11 former Soviet socialist republics of the former USSR. The stamp illustrates 11 flags of States-members of the CIS as well as its emblem.

Philatelic Library

e books on Philately : All about Stamp Collecting

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37667833/Stamp-Collecting

http://www.askphil.org/b.htm

Online Stamp Catalogue…

Search stamps of different countries online…

http://www.catawiki.co.uk/catalog/100271-stamps

New Blogs & Websites

A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi : http://www.gandhiworld.in/ - A new website created by ML Rajesh of Tiruvallur District of Tamilnadu. This website contains Gandhiji's memorabilia such as Stamps, coins, currencies, tokens, telephone cards, post cards, special covers, statues and a few rare photo graphs too. It is a complete website on Mahatma Gandhi .

Officially Sealed Mails of the World : http://www.poseal.com/ - A site dedicated to the study of Post Office Seals -

Sports Philately : http://www.sportstamps.org/ - Website on Sports Philately.

Se- tenant Stamps of India - http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.com/ It is a specialized Blog on se-tenant stamps.

Flags & Stamps - http://flagstamps.blogspot.com/ - It is a specialized blog on Flag Theme .

Glimpses of Modern Indian Philately : http://modernindianphilately.blogspot.com/ A new Blog on Modern Indian Postal History and Modern Philately of India, has been created by Mr Prashant Pandya.

Stamp Sathi : http://stampsathi.in/# - A new website on Indian Philately created by Chintan and Ronit Parikh of Gujarat. It is a very useful site for all stamp collectors.

Phila India : www.PhilaIndia.info – A new website on Indian Philately created by Mahesh Reddiar of Krerala

Postmarks of India : http://www.indianpostmarks.blogspot.com/ - This blog is dedicated to Permanent Pictorial Cancellations available at Indian Post Offices.

Discover Topical Stamp Collecting : http://secretstostampcollecting.com/members/ - How-To, Tips, News, Reviews and Resources for Stamp Collectors

West Essex Philatelic Society : http://www.wepsonline.org./ A philatelic society with lot of philatelic activities.

Gandhi Stamps : http://gandhistamps.com - The website is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Philately. All the stamps issued on Mahatma Gandhi from various countries in the World have been featured.

Join Mobile Philately & Stay Updated - http://mobilephilately.blogspot.com/ Mobile Philately is a mobile technology based philatelic community with short messaging service (SMS) that allows the community members to get latest updates related to Indian philately directly into mobile message box.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Stamps-Philately-1610/indexExp_69442.htm - It is a site based on Question & Answers on Philately. Mr Prashant Pandya replies to queries.

Philatelic Clubs & Societies

Baroda Philatelic Society - http://www.vadophil.org/

Eastern India Philatelists’ Association - http://www.filacapsule.blogspot.com/

Indian Stamp Ghar - http://www.indianstampghar.com/

Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana - http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/

Ludhiana Philatelic Club

Mobile Philately - http://www.mobilephilately.webs.com/

Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Rainbow Stamp Club - http://rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/

Rajkot Philatelic Society – Rajkot, Gujarat

Gujarat Philatelic Association - Ahmedabad

South India Philatelists Association - http://www.sipa.org.in/

Stamps of India - http://www.stampsofindia.com/

The Lighter Side

My Best Wishes To RAINBOW…

- Naresh Agarwal

It was a great philatelic day

When Rainbow spread its ray

So beautiful and so colorful

Red, orange, green and gray

It gave philately a new direction

Taught how to make a collection

Touched every facet of philately

Gave readers due satisfaction

The stamp news and the tales

The articles and the mails

The information it imparted

Was always fresh not stale

The journey of four years

Has been full of pleasure

It has nicely served its readers

Given them philatelic treasure

The Editor behind it

Has worked hard day and night

Her dedication and discipline

Made Rainbow a popular site

It’s each and every content

Full of knowledge and passion

Served well a child to an old

Really needs a special mention

Wish Rainbow to glow with glory

Wish Rainbow to write its story

Wish Rainbow to never depart

Wish rainbow to live long in hearts !!

How the Rainbow News Stepped in to Fifth Year …

- Jagannath Mani, Bangalore

Dear Readers I tried to narrate The Story of Rainbow News, How It stepped in to fifth year from four successful years of journey after crossing many hurdles, the story Line is About the Angle and the Rainbow ….

The Three Years Before One day an Angle came out of the heaven to play in the rain and while playing she got wet and to dry her wet white dress she went to sun light .The sun rays passed through her white dress and formed the Rainbow. Her friends loved to see the Rainbow.

Often she gets wet in the rain and cheers herself up in the sun light and tries to fulfill her friends’ wishes so that they could enjoy it and share their joy with others !

It did not turn out to look like an ordinary Rainbow, one day though her dress got soaked and didn’t dry up quite right, she never let her friends disappointed she went near the sun to give an awesome Rainbow….

Being the Good natured person, she did not throw away her wet dress, she gave her new creation a name. As she called it as Rainbow News in honor of the Rain that created it. She thought that it would be the perfect to cheer up when it rained in her own creation.

Everyone loved it! So every time it rains she gets wet and cheers up in sunlight and brings us a rainbow News. So everyone can enjoy by viewing it, I hope she doesn’t even mind getting wet for long time for the cause of Rainbow News.

Even the Rainbow News looks like half of the Circle as that of Rainbow. The Rainbow News Has won few awards for her Credit, and won many hearts. I wish her Voyage to Continue for the good cause and bring more Rainbow News in future.

With Rainbow Regards,

Jagannath Mani

Promotional section

ITS Stamp News

New issue no.56 October-December 2011 of "ITS Stamp News" . philatelic newsletter on Thematic Philately, has been released. To subscribe the newsletter contact Mr Suraj Jaitly Mobile: +91 98728 51244 MIG # 3464, Phase Two, Dugri Road, Ludhiana - 141 013 INDIA email : indianthematicsociety@gmail.com ITS Stamp News at http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Directory of stamp and Coin collectors

I am making a directory of all Collectors in India. It will be circulated free to all. Readers are requested to send following details for entry in directory at email : prem.stamps@gmail.com

NAME - AGE Postal ADDRESS + Pin Code
COLLECTION - EMAIL - MOBILE NO. -

I also request to all Clubs of Stamps, Coins, Paper Money etc. of INDIA - State, City to send the details of the club and its achievements to prem.stamps@gmail.com.

1.) Club Name 2.) Registration No.3.) Postal Address + Pin Code

4.) Total Members 5.) Their Details + Collections 6.) Exhibition they held each year - Month and Dates - Like 1st week of December.

7.) Achievements of the Club, Its members.8.) Any other details.

- Prem Pues Kumar, Jamshedpur

Philatelic Library for Sale

Philatelist and writer Anil Dhir is disposing off his entire library of rare and important philatelic books that he has collected over the years. The first list of more then a hundred books offered for sale is ready. To get the list send him an email at anildhir2k5@hotmail.com

Books on Philately

“My Rainbow of Philatelic Articles” by Dr Satyendra Kumar Agarwal is a collection of specialized and comprehensive articles on a variety of subjects published in Rainbow Stamp News during last three years. The 150 page hardbound book published by Philagold Publications is priced at Rs 1200 ( US $ 25). Dr Satyendra Kumar Agarwal may be contacted for this book at email : rosephila@hotmail.com

Read more details..

Year Book 2011

Mr Madan Middha the publisher of Year Book of Indian Philately needs suggestions from the Readers for Year Book 2011..for which he has started working Readers are requested to send their suggestions about contents of the new edition. Articles are also invited from the readers. Please contact Mr Middha e mail madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

ITS Stamp News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic Society website - http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Phila News, Editor Rajesh Pahariya and published by Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

VADOPHIL, Editor - Prashant Pandya and published by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara. Website -http://www.vadophil.org/

e ZEP Newsletter http://www.ezep.de/zpj/zpj.html Editor : Dieter Leder email zpj@arcor.de website www.eZEP.de

SIPA Bulletin Editor - Mr G. Madan Mohan Das and published by South India Philatelists’ Association, Chennai website : http://www.sipa.org.in/

FILA Capsule – Editor : Ajit Dash and published by EIPA, Bhubaneshwar.

GPA News – Editor- Ilias Patel and published by Gujarat Philatelists’ Association, Ahemadabad.

Kar Phila News published by Karnataka Philatelic Society & edited by by Akshay Borad

e–mail : akshayborad@hotmail.com

Editor’s Mail Box

ML Rajesh, Tiruvallur (Tamilnadu)

I find no words to appreciate your newsletter. Through your Newsletter, I come to know lots of new and unknown information Moreover, the web links published in it are useful to me to a great extent. I extend my heartfelt thanks to you and take this opportunity to greet you to succeed in your ambition.

KK Miglani, New Delhi

I congratulate you for the excellent web site which is full of information & current activities on philately.

RAINBOW STAMP CLUB

Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this issue - Stamps of India, ; International Stamp News ; Mansoor B.- Mangalore ; Ashwani Dubey – Gorakhpur;; Prashant Pandya – Vadodara; Rajesh Paharia. Jaipur ; Timir Shah – Vadodara; Vijay Modi – Himmatnagar (Gujarat) Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad; Umesh Kakkeri – Mumbai; Hemant Jain – Mandla (MP) ; Prof VK Gupta – New Delhi; Yogesh Kumar - Bareilly

Address for communication:

Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Kullu (H.P.) PIN 175126 India

E-mail – j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com

Last date for receiving write ups – 25th of every month. Kindly send images in jpg compressed format & text in MS Word only.

If you liked this issue please forward it to your friends and help in promoting philately.

A Request to Readers & Contributors-

Please do not send the text in scan form or PDF. Send your write ups in MS Word only.

Kindly specify your contribution such as article/News/ Reader’s Right / Beginners’ Section/ Lighter Side etc.

Attention -
Please send limited number of images in compressed jpg format only with your article. Please send text and images separately. Please do not send text or image for publication in PDF.

…..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti, from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) India.